Medical Complications led to newborn's death: Chennai Doctor, Hospital slapped Rs 10 lakh compensation
Medical Negligence
Chennai: Holding a doctor and a city-based hospital liable for medical negligence, the North Chennai District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission recently asked them to jointly pay Rs 10 lakh compensation to a woman whose child died after suffering medical complications during birth.
The complaints were filed by a couple hailing from Kodungaiyur, who consulted the concerned doctor and the hospital from the same locality during the woman's pregnancy for prenatal care and diagnosis.
In her final trimester, the woman was informed by the doctor that her vitals were normal. Thereafter, when she underwent labour pain, she was admitted to the Hospital for her delivery.
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As per the latest media report by DT Next, the hospital was allegedly short-staffed, and no duty doctors were available at the hospital. It was also alleged by the couple that the treating doctor arrived late, and there were also lapses in getting an oxygen cylinder at the labour ward. Two more male doctors arrived later, and the complainant was informed that a girl had been born but was found unconscious.
Further, the hospital and the doctors allegedly informed him that during the delivery, the umbilical cord got tangled around the fetus's neck, leading to her head getting stuck and further complicating the procedure.
The situation worsened further as the newborn was in critical condition, suffering seizures and haemorrhage in the brain. Consequently, the treating doctors advised the couple to shift the baby to a private hospital in Chetpet for special treatment for hypothermia. Accordingly, the baby was shifted and admitted to the NICU ward; later the woman was discharged from the RS Hospital.
After undergoing treatment for 15 days at the private hospital, the doctors informed the woman that her child's condition could be ascertained only as she grew up. They allegedly also informed the couple that the situation was caused by the negligence of RS Hospital and the treating doctor during the delivery period.
Despite spending Rs 2.87 lakh on the child's treatment, the baby could not be saved and unfortunately passed away in November 2023.
Following this, the couple filed the complaint before the Chennai North District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.
The consumer court found a deficiency in medical services and held the doctor and the hospital jointly liable to pay Rs 10 lakh towards compensation for deficiency in medical service, monetary loss, including the medical expenses incurred, mental agony, pain and suffering, and loss. They were also told to pay Rs 5,000 towards litigation costs within two months from the date of the order.
