The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has upheld the decision of the Andhra Pradesh State Commission, dismissing an appeal alleging medical negligence against Apollo Hospitals in connection with the death of a 53-year-old patient suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
No Proof of Negligence, Says NCDRC
A bench comprising Dr Inder Jit Singh (Presiding Member) and Dr Sudhir Kumar Jain (Member) ruled that the appellant failed to establish any deficiency in service or negligence on the part of the hospital.
The Commission observed that there was no apparent error in the State Commission’s order warranting interference, thereby upholding the earlier ruling in favour of the hospital.
Background: Patient Treated for Stage 5 CKD
The case dates back to 2012 when the patient was undergoing treatment at Seven Hills Hospital, Visakhapatnam, for Stage 5 CKD and was advised regular haemodialysis. After initial treatment, she was taken to Apollo Hospitals for a second opinion, where doctors continued the same line of treatment.
The complainant alleged that dialysis at Apollo led to complications including high blood pressure, tremors, and unconsciousness, and that her condition deteriorated during hospitalization.
Allegations of Poor Care and Record Withholding
The complainant further claimed that the patient was kept in a shared AC ward with critically ill patients, which adversely affected her health. He also alleged that the hospital failed to provide a discharge summary and case records in time, despite multiple RTI applications.
After discharge against medical advice, the patient was shifted to another facility where she was declared brain dead and later died.
Hospital Denies Charges, Cites Critical Condition
Apollo Hospitals refuted all allegations, stating that the patient was admitted in a critical condition with multiple complications including sepsis, pulmonary edema, and hypertension.
The hospital maintained that she received appropriate treatment, including dialysis, antibiotics, oxygen support, and blood transfusions. It also stated that the patient was discharged against medical advice and that pending dues remained unpaid.
State Commission Found Allegations Vague
In its 2022 order, the Andhra Pradesh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission noted that the patient was already in an advanced stage of CKD at the time of admission.
It observed that the complainant failed to provide specific instances of negligence and relied on vague and unsupported claims. The Commission concluded that no medical negligence could be established.
NCDRC Explains Legal Standard for Medical Negligence
While dismissing the appeal, the NCDRC reiterated the legal principles governing medical negligence. It stated that negligence must be proven through three key elements:
- Existence of a duty of care
- Breach of that duty
- Resulting damage
In medical cases, a failure to exercise a reasonable degree of skill and care expected from a professional must be clearly demonstrated—something the complainant failed to do in this case.
Appeal Decided on Merits Despite Absence of Appellant
The Commission noted that no one appeared on behalf of the appellant during the hearing on October 3, 2025. The matter was therefore decided based on available records and written submissions.
Final Verdict
Upholding the State Commission’s findings, the NCDRC dismissed the appeal, bringing closure to a long-standing dispute and reaffirming that allegations of medical negligence must be supported by concrete evidence and expert opinion.
