NCDRC asks hospital to pay Rs 13 L to kin of patient

The apex consumer commission has directed a private hospital in Aligarh to pay over Rs 13 lakh as compensation to the family of a man who died due to improper pre-operative assessment by doctors.
National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) bench headed by Justice J M Malik directed Varun Hospital and two of its doctors to pay the amount to the wife and two children of the deceased advocate, who was admitted to the hospital for a minor operation as he had suffered fracture in upper arm near the shoulder.
The bench directed the hospital and its two doctors to pay Rs 13.8 lakh to the kin of Jaiprakash Bhatnagar, a resident of Aligarh.

The commission observed that assessment records were not maintained properly and held that it amounts to negligence.
"It is very important for the treating doctor to properly document the management of a patient under his care. Medical record keeping has evolved into a science in itself.
"This will be the only way for the doctor to prove that the treatment was carried out properly. Thus, 'Poor records mean poor defence, no records mean, no defence'," it said.
The commission also observed that it was the lack of proper pre-operative assessment which led to the death of the patient.
"We are of considered view that, the opposite party 2 (doctor) failed to do standard pre-anesthetic assessment, administered medicines without taking allergy-test. Thus due to lack of proper pre-operative assessment, the patient passed away," the bench, also comprising S M Kantikar, said.