KOLKATA – Following an 11-year legal battle, the West Bengal State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered a prominent Kolkata hospital and a senior doctor to pay ₹26.5 lakh in compensation and costs for a botched 2015 hysterectomy that caused severe, lasting complications. The verdict, delivered on May 6, 2026, held Belle Vue Clinic and Dr. Niranjan Bhattacharya jointly liable for gross medical negligence, noting a profound failure to address a damaged ureter in a timely manner, which required five follow-up surgeries.
The commission, led by Justice Bibhas Ranjan De and Member Mridula Roy, emphasized that while risks exist in surgery, the delay in diagnosing and treating the damage constituted “indisputable medical negligence”. The compensation breakdown includes ₹21 lakh for medical expenses, ₹5 lakh for pain and suffering, and ₹50,000 for legal costs, with 9% interest applied from the date of filing. Furthermore, the ruling reinforced that hospitals are vicariously liable for the actions of consultants practicing within their facilities, underscoring that patients trust these institutions based on their reputation.
