Patna: In a significant judgment, the Patna District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has held a doctor at Shanti Hospital guilty of medical negligence during a cesarean delivery and ordered compensation of ₹34 lakh to the affected patient.
The case dates back to January 2017, when the complainant woman visited Shanti Hospital in Patna for a routine prenatal check-up. She was admitted on January 16, and the next day, without prior notice, a cesarean operation was performed.
Following the procedure, the woman experienced continuous internal bleeding, and the hospital’s lack of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) led to a worsening of her condition. She was subsequently shifted to three different hospitals — Rajeshwar Hospital, Shriram Hospital, and finally Paras Hospital — where a detailed investigation revealed that an organ had been damaged during surgery, resulting in the formation of a uterovesical fistula, a serious medical complication.
The woman alleged that the doctor’s negligence not only endangered her life but also led to prolonged physical and mental trauma, requiring treatment at four hospitals in succession.
After hearing the case, the commission ruled in favor of the complainant and directed the doctor to pay:
- ₹18 lakh as compensation, with 12% annual interest from the date of filing the complaint,
- ₹50,000 for physical and mental suffering, and
- ₹50,000 towards litigation costs.
The total compensation amounts to ₹34 lakh, which must be paid within 120 days. If the order is not complied with within the stipulated period, enforcement proceedings will be initiated.
In addition to the compensation, the Commission issued a strong advisory stating that no complex surgery should be carried out in hospitals lacking ICU facilities, emphasizing patient safety and the need for appropriate infrastructure during critical medical procedures.