Consumer Commission finds deficiency in service at private healthcare facilities
Trichy: In two separate incidents of alleged medical negligence during caesarean section procedures at private hospitals in Trichy, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered a combined compensation of ₹35 lakh to the victims.
According to The Times of India, the first case, decided on May 22, involved a 26-year-old woman who claimed she was administered spinal anaesthesia on the wrong nerve during her C-section in September 2022. Following the surgery, she suffered from severe mobility issues, including difficulty in walking, sitting, and performing daily tasks. Subsequent medical scans revealed disc bulges in her spine.
The commission concluded that there was a clear deficiency in service and medical negligence in administering the anaesthesia. As a result, the hospital and doctors were directed to pay ₹30 lakh as compensation and ₹15,000 towards legal expenses.
In the second case, a woman who underwent a C-section in February 2018 continued to experience chronic abdominal pain. Nearly a year later, imaging revealed a 26×6 mm hypoechoic tract caused by a retained non-absorbable Prolene suture in her abdomen. She had to undergo corrective surgery in April 2019 to remove the suture.
On May 23, the commission ruled that the attending medical staff had failed to provide proper post-operative care and ensure complete wound closure, holding the clinic accountable for medical negligence under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
The complainant was awarded ₹5 lakh as compensation, ₹52,000 for medical and surgical expenses, and ₹10,000 for litigation costs.
These rulings underline the increasing scrutiny on medical procedures and the importance of patient rights and safety in private healthcare facilities.
