Rs 20 Lakh compensation slapped on Coimbatore Hospital for deficiency in service
Compensation
Unable to manage the patient's critical state, the hospital referred her to CMCH, where she succumbed to respiratory failure.
Coimbatore: A private hospital in Coimbatore has been directed by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission to pay Rs 20 lakh in compensation to the parents of a pregnant woman who died allegedly due to a deficiency in medical care provided by doctors.
According to a recent media report in the Times of India, the patient, first consulted a private hospital in her locality on January 26, 2023, after becoming pregnant. The doctor advised her to return for a scan on February 17 to monitor fetal growth.
On February 20, she revisited the hospital with a fever and was prescribed medication, with a follow-up scheduled for February 22. During the follow-up, she was given the same medication. The next day, as her condition worsened, she was admitted to the hospital and underwent a dengue test. However, since the test was negative, she was discharged the same day.
Despite the treatment, her health continued to deteriorate. Concerned about her worsening condition, her parents rushed her back to the same hospital on February 24. Unable to manage her critical state, the hospital referred her to Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), where she succumbed to respiratory failure on February 25.
Following her death, the parents filed a petition on April 12, 2023, with the Deputy Director of Medical Services, demanding an inquiry into the circumstances leading to her death. They also submitted medical records detailing alleged deficiencies in the treatment provided by the private hospital.
Upon investigation, the Deputy Director of Medical Services confirmed in a letter dated May 24, 2023, that the oatient's death was due to a deficiency in service by the hospital. Based on these findings, her parents approached the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission seeking justice.
After reviewing the case, Commission President R. Thangavel and members P. Marimuthu and G. Suguna ruled that the hospital had failed to provide adequate care. The commission directed the private hospital to pay Rs 20 lakh as compensation to the patient's parents and an additional Rs 5,000 towards legal expenses, reports TOI.
