Date:01/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/01/stories/2006050100730400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Surgeon held guilty of negligence

Staff Reporter

Consumer commission awards Rs. 1.5-lakh compensation

The patient was admitted to a hospital for minor neck surgery

Surgeon cut a blood vessel and the patient bled to death

BANGALORE: It was a minor operation that Shanthamma underwent to remove a knot (hard lump of tissue) on the right side of her neck. The surgeon removed the knot, but he accidentally cut a blood vessel, and she bled to death.

The Karnataka State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission held the surgeon guilty of negligence. "But for the negligence there would not have been any damage to the blood vessel and the patient would not have died," the order said. The commission ordered the insurance company concerned to pay Rs. 1.5 lakh to Shanthamma's family.

Shanthamma was admitted to Seva Hospital in Tumkur on August 27, 2002 to undergo surgery to remove the knot, which had been causing her severe pain. After the surgery, she was bleeding heavily. The doctors there could not control the bleeding and she was referred to St. John's Hospital in Bangalore. St. John's Hospital refused to admit her, and she was referred to Manipal Hospital. Despite treatment, she died on August 29. Her son B.H. Kumar filed the complaint with the commission.

The commission has ordered a druggist to pay compensation of Rs. 10,000 for his negligence in giving the wrong medicine to a patient.

Chandrabai of Belgaum went to Kamadhenu Medical Stores with a prescription to buy four medicines, one of which was Fered Syrup. The person at the shop gave him Femed Syrup. Chandrabai, according to the complaint, drank the syrup and had diarrhoea. The District Consumer Forum had awarded him Rs. 1,000 as compensation.