Home / Crime and Justice / Govt Hospital Negligence: Rs 5 Lakh Awarded for Vision Loss
Govt Hospital Negligence: Rs 5 Lakh Awarded for Vision Loss
4 Sep
Summary
- Court awarded Rs 5 lakh to a man who lost partial vision.
- State government held liable for hospital's actions and negligence.
- Inadequate infrastructure and staff noted as reasons for faulty surgery.
The Calcutta High Court recently awarded Rs 5 lakh compensation to an electrician who sustained partial blindness after a cataract surgery at a government facility. The division bench ruled that the state government is vicariously liable for the hospital's actions, recognizing the profound impact on the patient's life and livelihood. The court emphasized that the right to life includes the right to good health.
The patient underwent cataract surgery at the government hospital, which allegedly resulted in complications and vision loss. An opinion from the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Kolkata, suggested that contamination or faulty sterilization of instruments may have caused the incident. The court noted that the hospital's own medical board had recommended significant changes to the operation theatre.
Further scrutiny revealed infrastructural gaps and a lack of trained staff, leading the court to conclude there was sheer negligence. The bench stated that state hospitals must provide basic infrastructure and that the casual approach to surgery jeopardized citizens' lives. Constitutional courts are obligated to protect fundamental rights and can award monetary compensation as redressal.
