Madras Medical Mission directed to pay Rs 10 lakh compensation by NCDRC

“To this extent, the hospital was negligent in rendering services to the patient, during his stay in the ICU of the hospital,” commission’s presiding member Justice V K Jain said. “The Madras Medical Mission is directed to pay compensation quantified at Rs 10,00,000 to complainants along with the cost of litigation quantified at Rs 25,000,” he added.

According to the complaint, on July 11, 2007, Paul had undergone a coronary artery bypass graft surgery at the hospital and was shifted to ICU later. As per the complaint made by Paul’s family, he was not connected to a pulse oximeter, which was necessary to monitor the oxygen saturation level.

They had further claimed that Paul remained in comatose state and on life support system with irreversible brain damage from July 15, 2007, and was declared dead on July 28. His family had alleged negligence in post-operative treatment and management of the patient.

The hospital claimed it had one of the most well-equipped and well-manned ICUs in the country and there was bedside monitoring by nurses and physicians were available round-the-clock to monitor the patients.

They also claimed that pulse oximeter saturations, arterial blood gases and other hemodynamic parameters are continuously monitored in the ICU and documented. The Commission, however, observed that the hospital had not submitted any evidence to substantiate its claims.