Misdiagnosed Fetal Deformity: Scan Centre slapped Rs 16.5 Lakh compensation
court order
Bhatinda: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Faridkot has ordered a scan and diagnostic center located in Kotkapura to pay Rs 16.5 lakh compensation for allegedly failing to detect a fetal deformity during multiple ultrasonography scans conducted prior to delivery.
According to a recent media report, the case concerns a patient, who was treated at Gagan Maternity Home from August 13, 2017, to March 28, 2018. During her pregnancy, she also consulted Kataria Hospital and underwent three ultrasonography scans at Jasbir Scan and Diagnostic Centre in Kotkapura. As per the reports, no abnormalities were detected in the fetus at both 14.5 weeks and 32.3 weeks of gestation.
On April 7, 2018, the patient delivered a baby boy at Gagan Maternity Home. However, the newborn was found to have deformities, including the absence of four fingers on his left hand, with only the thumb present, and a shorter-than-normal hand. The parents alleged that proper care was not taken during the ultrasonography and Doppler tests, and critical issues like soft tissue or limb swelling were missed.
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Following a recommendation for prosthetic rehabilitation at Medanta Medicity, Gurgaon, the couple filed a complaint on January 25, 2019, under Section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, alleging medical negligence by the diagnostic centre.
In defense, the doctors stated that the complaint lacked merit, denying any negligence or deficiency in service. They argued that the complaint was filed with ulterior motives and did not arise from legitimate grounds.
Despite these claims, the commission, led by president Rakesh Kumar Singla, ruled in favor of the complainants. On January 23, 2025, it ordered Jasbir Scan and Diagnostic Centre to pay Rs 7 lakh to cover the medical expenses for the child’s treatment, Rs 4 lakh for the child’s upbringing, Rs 5 lakh as compensation for harassment, and Rs 50,000 towards litigation expenses, reports TOI.
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