Madurai: Four arrested for blackmailing, threatening a doctor

Madurai: With the inclusion of medical negligence cases in the ambit of Consumer Protection Act, reports of such instances are certainly on the rise. On rise are also cases of so-called "dissatisfied" patients who demand their money back after accusing the hospital/ medical practitioners for performing the "wrong treatment".

One such case has come to light from Madurai, where four people have been arrested for threatening a female doctor, to return their money that they had paid for the treatment or face dire consequences.

The case is of a private hospital Melur Roadin Othakadai, where a a female patient was brought for a stone in gall bladder surgery. All the tests and the following surgery was successfully performed at the hospital reports TOI. However, soon after the surgery the patient's relatives took her to another private hospital, alleging lack of proper treatment to the hospital.

The patient's attendants soon came back to the hospital, alleging that proper treatment was not provided at the hospital leading to patients developing health complications. They threatened the owner of the hospital, Dr G Sujatha, demanding their money to be returned. When the doctor refused to budge, the attendants threatened her with dire consequences and also to attack the hospital.

The doctor immediately filed an FIR with the Othakadai police where a case was registered under the relevant provisions  of the Hospital Protection Act, 2013. Four people identified as Sathish, Ilayaraja, Paneer and Vairam - from Othakadai have been arrested in this regard.