Holding three doctors of a private hospital guilty of negligence, the Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission directed them to pay Rs 9 lakh to a minor, who had a perforated appendix and fluid in the abdomen area.

The Commission directed the doctors of Bhagat Hospital to pay the Rs 6.5 lakh spent by the patient along with Rs 2.5 lakh for the mental agony caused to her due to their negligence.

Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal noted the doctors were negligent as they failed to do “something which a reasonable man would do”.

“After examination, the treating doctors suggested a CT scan and ultrasound of the entire abdominal area on 06.05.2018. However, even after the examination of the said reports, the doctors failed to provide the treatment in accordance with the reports,” noted Justice Sehgal.

Justice Sehgal also stated that the CT scan clearly showed an inflamed appendix and a fluid-like substance in the abdominal area of the patient.

The complainants in this case are the parents of the patient Jhanvi Singh. They have alleged Singh visited Bhagat Hospital in Janakpuri in May 2018 complaining of abdominal pain. She was attended by Dr Kushal Kejriwal, Dr Abhishek Maru, and Dr Rajesh Kalita, who asked for an MRI to be done for her whole abdomen region.

The complainants said the results of the scan reflected perforation of the appendix, infection, and leakage in the internal area of the abdomen. Despite this, she was discharged on two occasions without conducting any operation.

Later in May, Singh was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where she underwent an operation to drain the fluids in her abdominal area and to remove her perforated appendix. About a week later, she was discharged and her parents had to pay Rs. 6.5 lakh for her surgery and treatment.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-doctors-private-hospital-rs-9-lakh-medical-negligence-8979270/