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Hospital Fined Rs 30,000 for Unhygienic Maternity Care
4 Aug
Summary
- Hospital ordered to pay Rs 30,000 for deficient service.
- Hygiene lapses included dirty towels and contaminated soup.
- Consumer law protects patients from non-medical service failures.
A consumer commission in Punjab has mandated a hospital to compensate a woman Rs 30,000 due to service deficiencies. The commission found the hospital failed to uphold hygiene standards and deliver promised amenities within its maternity package. These lapses included unhygienic towels and contaminated food, impacting a recovering mother's care.
The complainant had booked a maternity package, expecting services like room decoration and a cake ceremony. However, she alleged these were either unfulfilled or poorly executed. Her concerns extended to a dirty attendant's couch, torn towels, and finding plastic in her soup.
While the hospital argued for successful surgery and provided medical care, it admitted to providing a defective towel and finding plastic in the soup. The commission affirmed that hospitals must maintain high hygiene and food quality standards. It ruled that even accidental hygiene failures constitute a deficiency in service, leading to the imposed compensation for mental agony and litigation costs.
