Malda: Two Families to Receive Over Rs 10L Compensation for Medical NegligenceIn two separate cases of medical negligence, the District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (DCDRC) in Malda has ordered significant compensation for victims, totaling over Rs 10 lakh.
Case 1: Infant’s Hip Surgery Gone Wrong
A one-year-old girl from Gazole’s Karalabita village was treated for a hip joint injury in 2018 after a fall. Initially, she was prescribed medication by a local doctor but was later hospitalized when an X-ray revealed an infection. The child was admitted to a nursing home in Malda, where surgery was recommended. However, instead of performing the necessary hip joint surgery, the surgeon mistakenly made an incision in the child’s abdomen and inserted gauze, worsening her condition.
After a month of deteriorating health, the family sought treatment in Vellore, where doctors diagnosed the initial procedure as medical negligence. The DCDRC ruled that the accused doctors, Sudipta Roy and Debjyoti Bose, along with the nursing home, must pay Rs 6 lakh for medical negligence and an additional Rs 15,000 for mental harassment.
Case 2: Woman Suffers Complications After Uterus Surgery
In another case, a woman from Malda underwent surgery for a bulky uterus with multiple myomas in 2015 at Dishari Health Point under the care of SN Sharma. Post-surgery, she suffered continuous complications, including the development of a GU fistula. Despite repeated visits to Sharma, her condition worsened, prompting her to seek further treatment at a Nursing Home in Burdwan. There, it was discovered that the earlier surgery had caused the fistula.
The DCDRC found Sharma and the nursing home negligent and ordered them to pay Rs 3 lakh for medical negligence and Rs 1.8 lakh for mental harassment and agony. The compensation must be paid within 45 days.
District Administration Actions:
In a related development, the district administration took action against several healthcare facilities in Chanchal and Old Malda. They sealed Sunrise Nursing Home and Star Lab for irregularities and imposed fines of Rs 1 lakh on another nursing home and Rs 30,000 on a diagnostic center. Additionally, two diagnostic centers in Old Malda were fined Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000.
Key Takeaways:
- The DCDRC rulings underscore the importance of accountability in healthcare and highlight the need for consumer protection under the law.
- These cases serve as a reminder of the ongoing issue of medical negligence, with many patients still waiting for justice.
- The district administration’s action against healthcare facilities demonstrates a growing effort to address irregularities in the healthcare sector.
