WBCERC imposes Rs 10 lakh fine on Kolkata hospital for death of patient post delivery

Kolkata: Coming down heavily on Sunflower Nursing Home in Howrah, the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission (WBCERC) has imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on the facility after the commission found deficiencies on the part of the hospital, which led to the death of a patient post delivery.

As per the judgment by WBCERC, the patient suffered from several post-delivery complications, but the hospital failed to provide her with enough care at the right time and she ultimately lost her life. Hence, the committee has asked the nursing home authorities to pay compensation to the victim's family members.

The WBCERC heard the case on February 27, in which the complaining party was the family of a pregnant patient who was admitted to the nursing home at 3.15 AM on April 8, 2019, and her condition was critical at the time. The RMO, who was on duty and had a diploma in gynecology, attended to the patient. The following day at 8.15 AM, the patient was reassessed. At 10 AM, two of the doctors checked the patient and she delivered twin babies.

However, the patient’s health condition turned critical at around 5.30 PM and she faced excessive bleeding. She complained of having breathing problems and her blood pressure also dropped. Later at around 9 PM, she suffered a cardiac arrest. The doctors gave her CPR. However, she could not be saved and passed away late at night on April 9. When the family of the deceased approached the commission alleging medical negligence, the expert panel of the committee started investigating the matter.

The committee noted that after the delivery, she bled profusely and the nursing home authorities did not record patient-related information for a long time. WBCERC Chairperson Justice (retired) Ashim Banerjee stated, " Expert doctors on the panel went through the documents and found that there was negligence on the part of the nursing home. We have taken note of the fact that the condition of the patient started deteriorating at 5.30 PM, but the hospital paid proper attention to her way too late. After much consideration, we have asked the nursing home authorities to pay compensation to the family members of the victim and decided on a fine of Rs 10 Lakh."