Diagnostic Lab’s Error Cost Him Gulf Job Opportunity, Rules Consumer Forum
Udupi: In a significant ruling, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered a Mangaluru-based diagnostic centre to pay ₹13.49 lakh as compensation to Shivakumar Shettigar, a 43-year-old nurse from Udupi, who lost a lucrative job opportunity in Saudi Arabia due to a false Hepatitis C diagnosis.
Shettigar, a qualified industrial nurse, was set to join the United Medical Response Company in the Gulf this February. However, during a mandatory pre-departure medical test conducted at National CT Scanner and Diagnostic Center in Mangaluru, he was incorrectly declared Hepatitis C positive—a disqualifying condition under GCC medical norms.
False Report Confirmed by Multiple Tests
Distressed by the diagnosis, Shettigar underwent confirmatory tests at a private laboratory in Manipal and the district government hospital in Udupi, both of which confirmed that he was Hepatitis C negative, revealing the initial report as erroneous.
Legal Action and Ruling
Alleging medical negligence and use of faulty diagnostic kits, Shettigar filed a complaint with the consumer forum, seeking damages for emotional trauma, financial losses, and the lost overseas opportunity.
After reviewing the evidence and hearing both parties, the consumer commission ruled in Shettigar’s favour on May 21, 2025, ordering the diagnostic centre to pay ₹13.49 lakh in compensation within 45 days. A 6% annual interest will be applicable if the payment is delayed.
Breakdown of Compensation
The compensation amount includes:
- Three years’ estimated lost salary (₹82,584 per month)
- Medical expenses
- Mental agony and emotional suffering
Implications
This ruling underscores the critical responsibility of diagnostic centres in ensuring accurate testing and highlights the serious consequences of medical negligence, especially when it affects career opportunities abroad.
The case also follows a trend of accountability in medical diagnostics, with recent precedents like Dr Lal PathLabs being penalised ₹3.5 lakh for a similar erroneous report.
