Apollo Hospitals in Bengaluru has been slammed by a consumer forum for “medical negligence” and ordered to pay compensation to a patient who was allegedly forced to undergo unnecessary surgery. The patient, identified as Rajalakshmi, had approached the Consumer disputes Redressal Forum (CDRF) alleging that she was subjected to “undue and unnecessary treatment” by the hospital’s doctors.
According to the complaint, Rajalakshmi was admitted to the hospital in 2017 for a routine cataract surgery. However, the doctors allegedly perforated her eyeball during the procedure, leading to further complications and two more surgeries. The patient reported that she was not properly informed about the risks involved and was coerced into undergoing additional procedures.
The consumer forum has ordered Apollo Hospitals to pay Rajalakshmi a compensation of Rs. 15 lakhs (approximately $20,000) for the “harassment” she suffered. The forum also directed the hospital to provide an additional Rs. 50,000 (approximately $670) for the costs incurred by the patient in seeking justice.
The patient’s ordeal began in 2017, when she was operated for cataract removal at Apollo Hospital. However, things took a turn for the worse when the eye surgeons allegedly perforated her eyeball, leaving her in a worse condition than before. Rajalakshmi was forced to undergo two more surgeries, including a complicated one that required a “stray” in her eye.
The CDRF alleged that the hospital’s doctors failed to provide a proper diagnosis and informed consent, leading to unnecessary and damaging treatment. The forum observed that the hospital’s actions were “arbitrary, unreasonable, and amounted to harassment” of the patient.
The verdict is seen as a major setback for Apollo Hospitals, which has faced similar allegations of medical negligence in the past. The case highlights the need for strict measures to prevent such incidents and ensure that patients are treated with dignity and respect. The forum’s ruling also underscores the importance of patient safety and the need for transparency in medical procedures.