Home / Crime and Justice / New Mother Served Plastic Soup, Hospital Pays $30K
New Mother Served Plastic Soup, Hospital Pays $30K
18 Jul
Summary
- Hospital fined $30,000 for hygiene failures.
- New mother found plastic in soup and unhygienic amenities.
- Surgery was successful, but service standards were lacking.
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Mohali has directed Cloudnine Hospital to pay ₹30,000 in compensation. This decision comes after a new mother was served soup with a piece of plastic and experienced unhygienic amenities during her hospital stay in November 2022. While the caesarean section and post-operative care were deemed medically sound, the commission found the hospital failed to maintain adequate hygiene and hospitality standards.
The complainant, Pratibha Kapoor, alleged several issues, including a dirty attendant's couch and torn towels. She also discovered plastic in her soup on November 14, 2022. Cloudnine Hospital acknowledged isolated human errors, including a defective towel and plastic in the soup, which were promptly addressed. However, the commission emphasized that hygiene and quality of food and amenities are paramount, especially for new mothers.
While rejecting the plea for a full refund and ₹3 lakh compensation due to no established medical injury or financial loss, the commission ordered the ₹30,000 payment for deficiency in service, mental agony, and litigation expenses. This amount is to be paid within 30 days, with interest applicable thereafter.
