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Doctor Removes Wrong Kidney, Family Awarded ₹2 Crore
21 May
Summary
- Surgeon found liable for gross medical negligence.
- Healthy kidney removed, diseased kidney left in place.
- Compensation of ₹2 crore ordered for negligence and loss.
A surgeon has been found guilty of gross medical negligence by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC). The commission ordered Dr. Rajeev Lochan to pay ₹2 crore in compensation to the family of Shanti Devi, who died in February 2014.
In April 2012, Shanti Devi, aged 56, sought treatment for abdominal pain and was diagnosed with a diseased right kidney. Surgery was performed on May 6, 2012, for the removal of the right kidney. However, subsequent scans revealed that the healthy left kidney had been removed, while the diseased right kidney remained.
The NCDRC stated this was an extreme form of negligence, rarely witnessed. The doctor admitted that a "right sided incision was made but the left kidney was removed." Both the Uttar Pradesh Medical Council and the Medical Council of India had previously found the doctor negligent.
The patient endured dialysis for nearly two years before passing away. The commission emphasized that removing the healthy kidney was a "medical disaster and negligence of the highest order," significantly impacting her chances of survival.
