Medical negligence: Consumer forum asks hospital to cough up Rs 32 lakh

Visakhapatnam: The Srikakulam district consumer disputes redressal commission has asked the GEMS hospital in Ragolu of Srikakulam district to pay a compensation of Rs 31.2 lakh to a woman in a case of medical negligence that led to the death of her husband.

Complainant K Aruna stated that her husband Katam Suresh was admitted at Great Eastern Medical School and Hospital at Ragolu in Srikakulam district for fever and abdominal pain on April 2, 2021. Despite the treatment, the condition of Suresh deteriorated.

Suresh suffered collateral damages in the vital parameters in the body and died due to over dosage of drugs and medications, on April 16.

Aruna had cross-checked with medical specialists over the death of her husband. The doctors revealed that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was not properly performed by the doctors of GEMS Hospital.

Stressing that her husband was the sole earning member of the family, Aruna filed a complaint before the commission seeking a compensation of Rs 75 lakh.

Dismissing the allegations of Aruna, GEMS Hospital management said Suresh was a chronic alcoholic and vital parts were badly damaged. He was treated as per the medical norms, it claimed.

The commission led by its president Raghupatruni Chiranjeevi and member Shanmukha Rao observed that it was the duty of the hospital to refer Suresh to specialists in liver and kidney organs for further treatment instead of treating him with a psychiatrist.

Aruna’s counsel Visweswara Rao said the commission found this was a clear negligence of the hospital.