The mop that cost the doctor Rs 8 lakh

Ahmedabad, May 25: Stories about the gross negligence of doctors are commonplace these days, but this one is unique. Here the doctor responded to the court's order for compensation sharply, pleading not guilty.

In Ahmedabad, a city-based gynaecologist and an insurance company have been ordered to shell out RS 8 lakh plus 9% interest for 12 years plus Rs 10,000 for the harrowing experience of the patient Mitaben Patel, following the fact that she left a mop inside the woman's body after conducting a surgery.

Dr Vandana Amin would regret her encounter with this patient back in 2002. Running a nursing home, the doctor had operated on Mitaben to remove her uterus, following complications. While the surgery happened in October 2002, Mitaben realised that something was wrong as she was encountering various issues.

After an ultrasound, it was concluded that a mop or a gauze was left behind from her previous surgery. It was removed after a year.

In 2003, Mitaben moved a consumer court in Surat where she lived and demanded Rs 10 lakh as compensation for the gross negligence of Amin. The court ruled in her favour, saying that the mop had damaged the intestine and other inner parts of the body and therefore asked the doctors to pay up Rs 8 lakh.

As the hospital was insured, the insurance company also was looped in. However, the doctor and the insurance company questioned the order at the Gujarat State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, but were rebuttled by the court, asking:

"Was is not the duty of the gynecologist to verify that every instrument, gauze, cotton and other articles used during the operation were back on operating table after completing the operation or not? If anything remains in the body during the operation, it is gross negligence on the part of the operating doctor."

Now, besides asking the doctor to pay the patient Rs 8 lakh, it has also demanded that she be paid Rs 10,000 more for dragging her into court again.

OneIndia News