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Hospital Overcharged Patient, Then Let Him Flee!
24 Sep
Summary
- Hospital issued three different bills for the same treatment period.
- A 70-year-old patient was awarded compensation for unfair trade practices.
- The commission cited patient's potential to leave as negligence.
A private hospital in Mohali has been directed by a Punjab consumer commission to pay Rs 20,000 in compensation to a 70-year-old patient. The commission found the hospital guilty of deficiency in service due to inconsistent billing and negligence. The complainant, admitted for spinal surgery in December 2021, received multiple bills for the same treatment duration, with amounts fluctuating significantly.
The hospital initially billed Rs 8.46 lakh, then Rs 5.91 lakh, and finally Rs 4.75 lakh. The commission determined this practice constituted an unfair trade act, especially against a senior citizen. Furthermore, the hospital's alleged failure to prevent the patient from leaving, even when the hospital claimed he fled without settling dues, was considered an act of negligence.
The patient had approached the hospital for low back pain, and after advising surgery, he was initially quoted an estimated cost between Rs 3.90 lakh and Rs 4.10 lakh. Despite insurance coverage, the billing discrepancies caused significant distress. The commission's ruling emphasizes hospitals' responsibility towards patient safety and fair trade practices.
