RML to pay Rs 2L to kin of patient for deficient treatment

Government-run Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital and its two doctors have been directed by a consumer forum here to pay Rs two lakh as compensation to the son of a patient for deficiency in her treatment.
The South District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-II observed that the hospital and its two doctors -- R K Modi and Gorpayle -- failed to inform the woman's family that she was in a serious condition when admitted and they also did not turn up in time to give medical aid when her situation worsened.
The attending doctor had turned up after the woman's death.

"As a result of our findings and observations made, we are of the opinion that there was deficiency of service on the part of the opposite parties (hospital and doctors) not at one but at two stages..."
"...Firstly the treating doctors failed to inform the complainant/attendant that the condition of the patient was very critical and secondly, the treating doctor did not turn up to give necessary medical aid to the patient when she had started breathlessness and doctors were knowing her condition was quite critical.
"Therefore, we hold all the opposite parties jointly and severally liable for such deficiency and direct them to pay a compensation of Rs 2,00,000 to the complainant. This compensation has been granted keeping in view the serious condition of the patient, the period of her admittance in the hospital and harassment and mental agony suffered by the complainant," the bench presided by M C Mehra said.

The forum also said that given the patient's serious condition it was "incumbent" upon the doctors to inform the relatives of the patient that her condition was very serious and she may collapse at any moment as well as immediately move her to the ICU and not to a ward or a private room as in the present case.
On providing immediate medical aid to the seriously ill patient, the forum noted in its order that the doctors concerned did not turn up at the "crucial time" despite being informed by the nursing staff.