The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Chandigarh has held Fortis Hospital in Mohali and one of its doctors guilty of medical negligence. The commission has ordered the hospital to pay a compensation of Rs 50 lakh along with 9% interest per annum to the widow of a patient who died during treatment. The patient, Harit Sharma, was admitted to the hospital in 2021 with an acute gastric problem. Despite initial improvement, his condition deteriorated due to alleged negligence in a medical procedure called tapping, which was done to remove ascites from his stomach.
The patient’s wife, Priyanka Sharma, filed a complaint with the commission, alleging that the hospital staff was negligent in performing the tapping procedure, which led to a drastic drop in her husband’s oxygen levels. She claimed that her husband was fully conscious and aware of the mistake made by the hospital staff, and he even wrote a note to her conveying what had happened during the procedure. Unfortunately, Harit Sharma passed away on August 2, 2021.
The hospital authorities refuted the allegations, claiming that there was no negligence on their part and that there was no expert evidence to prove otherwise. However, the commission found the hospital liable for medical negligence, deficiency in service, and unfair trade practice. The commission ordered the hospital to pay a lump sum compensation of Rs 50 lakh along with 9% interest per annum from the date of the patient’s death.
The commission’s decision was based on the fact that the hospital had failed to provide adequate care and treatment to the patient, leading to his death. The commission also took into account the dying declaration made by the patient, which provided evidence of the hospital’s negligence. The order highlights the importance of hospitals and medical professionals providing adequate care and treatment to patients, and the consequences of failing to do so. The case serves as a reminder of the need for accountability and transparency in the medical profession.