Rs. 1 lakh - Cost for not keeping the Records intact

a) there was no record of Stent maintained by the Hospital in order to show the date of manufacturing and date of Expiry.
b)Blood testing was wrongly done at several occasions.Wrong blood test reports can definitely cause wrong diagnosis and wrong treatment.
c) There was dearth of proper treatment.
The State commission rejected the grounds of Medical Negligence, but showed its anguish over the lethargic approach of concerned officers in maintaining the record of purchase of Medical Accessories, medicines etc & therefore saddled cost of Rs.2 lakh on PGIMER and feeling aggrieved thereby PGIMER approached National Commision.
Held :
After going through the record and after listening to the arguments advanced, the National Commission came to the conclusion that
a) there was no Medical Negligence and held that treating doctor's assessment and judgment may have to be respected until proved contrary,
b) But it was held that the deficiency in service is mainly in respect of not maintaining the proper records for the purchase and issue of medical items like stent etc. It was observed that the patient cannot be allowed to suffer on this account as they would never be sure about the authenticity and quality of treatment. Eventhough it is very difficult to compensate individual patient as consumer on account of this administrative lapse yet in specific cases like this, where the lapse might be a causal factor for death, the consumer of these services may be entitled to get some compensation.
c) It has not been proved that the biliary stent inserted in the patient was defective or expired or of sub-standard quality as there was no record to show the purchase of the stent inserted in the patient & there is also no conclusive proof that the patient died due to insertion of this biliary stent, hence reduced the compensation from Rs. 2 lakk to Rs.1 lakh to be paid to the Complainant.
An eye opener judgment for all the Hospitals and Doctors. As I have mentioned number of times, that maintaining the proepr recordis always benefitial, here is an example for not keping the record proeprly. In current scenario, where the Doctor-patient relationship is in turmoil, such lapses will add oil into it.
Thanks & Regards,
Adv. Rohit Erande
Pune.