Chennai: Hospital fined Rs 8.38 lakhs on medical negligence
Chennai: 15 years after a hip surgery went wrong at the Bharathi Raja Hospital in Chennai, the hospital has now been ordered by the District consumer disputes redressal forum ( Chennai North) to pay a compensation of Rs 8.38 lakh to the patient.
The case is that of one David Tyagraj, a lawyer who had met with a road accident in year 2000 in Pondicherry, came to Dr Nagappan at Bharathi Raja Hospital, in T.Nagar, Chennai for consultation and treatment. It was alleged that the doctor was negligent in the treatment of the patient by conducting a hip surgery wrongly by using bad quality plates, delaying treatment and  also carrying on the procedure without having full knowledge of it. The patient as a result of this is suffering from permanent disability. Other allegations include not having sufficient infrastructure at the hospital, hence referring the patient to another hospital for CT Scan
Dr Nagappa in his defence informed the forum that the patient was kept under observation for two days before the surgery was performed on the third day. The universal method of treatment was adopted, he said, adding that bone grafting was also done. He also stated that a complete hip replacement surgery would not have been possible immediately reports IndiaTV
The doctor also informed that he recommended the patient to consult Dr Madan Mohan Reddy who suggested that the patient should undergo a total hip replacement. However, Nagappan did not give the  any reason Tyagaraj why he was asking him to move to another hospital.
On the matter of the inferior plates, Nagappa claimed that he had advised the patient not to walk or put any pressure on his  hip but the patient had not heeded his advice or come back for check-ups, but the forum went through  a summary of the surgery provided by the hospital to the patient and found that no such suggestions were made.
However, the court rejected the doctors submissions, and remarked that Dr Nagappan consulted a doctor from another hospital, and referred the patient without assigning any reason in the discharge summary for not performing hip replacement. Also, there is nothing on record to show that post-operative care advice was given to the patient who suffered due to a bent metal plate, which needed corrective surgery. "The wait for a period of two to three days to undertake surgery is a clear case of delay," they concluded.
The forum has now asked directed the hospital to pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation to the complainant, topping it with  Rs 6.18 lakh towards medical expenses, another one lakh towards loss of income and Rs 20,000 as litigation fees. If the hospital fails to pay the amount, then they would have to pay the money with 9 per cent interest, according to reports.
The case is that of one David Tyagraj, a lawyer who had met with a road accident in year 2000 in Pondicherry, came to Dr Nagappan at Bharathi Raja Hospital, in T.Nagar, Chennai for consultation and treatment. It was alleged that the doctor was negligent in the treatment of the patient by conducting a hip surgery wrongly by using bad quality plates, delaying treatment and  also carrying on the procedure without having full knowledge of it. The patient as a result of this is suffering from permanent disability. Other allegations include not having sufficient infrastructure at the hospital, hence referring the patient to another hospital for CT Scan
Dr Nagappa in his defence informed the forum that the patient was kept under observation for two days before the surgery was performed on the third day. The universal method of treatment was adopted, he said, adding that bone grafting was also done. He also stated that a complete hip replacement surgery would not have been possible immediately reports IndiaTV
The doctor also informed that he recommended the patient to consult Dr Madan Mohan Reddy who suggested that the patient should undergo a total hip replacement. However, Nagappan did not give the  any reason Tyagaraj why he was asking him to move to another hospital.
On the matter of the inferior plates, Nagappa claimed that he had advised the patient not to walk or put any pressure on his  hip but the patient had not heeded his advice or come back for check-ups, but the forum went through  a summary of the surgery provided by the hospital to the patient and found that no such suggestions were made.
However, the court rejected the doctors submissions, and remarked that Dr Nagappan consulted a doctor from another hospital, and referred the patient without assigning any reason in the discharge summary for not performing hip replacement. Also, there is nothing on record to show that post-operative care advice was given to the patient who suffered due to a bent metal plate, which needed corrective surgery. "The wait for a period of two to three days to undertake surgery is a clear case of delay," they concluded.
 "Dr Nagappan has no knowledge of treatment of hip replacement and Bharathi Rajaa hospital does not have sufficient infrastructure for conducting such a surgery," TOI quotes the court as stating.
The forum has now asked directed the hospital to pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation to the complainant, topping it with  Rs 6.18 lakh towards medical expenses, another one lakh towards loss of income and Rs 20,000 as litigation fees. If the hospital fails to pay the amount, then they would have to pay the money with 9 per cent interest, according to reports.
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