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Hospital Negligence Leads to Scholar's Death, Rs 1 Crore Fine
2 Sep
Summary
- A hospital and neurologist were found negligent in delaying treatment.
- The commission ordered Rs 1 crore compensation for lost dependency.
- Hospitals can't delay life-saving treatment due to administrative hurdles.
The Hyderabad District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ruled a private hospital and its neurologist negligent in the case of a 30-year-old PhD scholar who died in August 2020. The scholar succumbed to a massive brain stroke four days after being admitted.
The commission ordered the hospital and doctor to pay Rs 1 crore to the scholar's parents for loss of dependency, income, and future prospects, along with Rs 50,000 for legal costs. The delay in treatment was attributed to waiting for family consent and later, a Covid-19 RT-PCR report.
Parents alleged that their son, admitted on August 17, 2020, died on August 21, 2020, due to the medical negligence. They claimed treatment was delayed for an advance payment and subsequently awaited a Covid test result.
The hospital defended its actions, stating it was a non-Covid facility and adherence to government guidelines for Covid-positive patients was mandatory. They also argued the patient was brought in beyond the critical four-hour window for stroke treatment.
However, the commission highlighted the duty of care in the doctor-patient relationship, stating emergency care should not be hindered by administrative issues. The scholar's untimely death deprived his elderly parents of future financial support and care.
