NCDRC to give direction in 77 crore damages case on March 21

New Delhi, Mar 17 (UNI) The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) is likely to decide the Rs 77.7 crore damages case of a US-based Indian doctor, alleging death of his wife due to ''wrong treatment'', after courts settle the medical negligence aspect of the case.

A bench, comprising Justice M B Shah, Justice K S Gupta and Ms Rajyalakshmi Rao, asked complainant Kunal Saha if he would abide by the Kolkata Medical Council verdict which has already give a clean chit to the doctors of the Amri-Apollo Hospital in the case.

Dr Saha is likely to appeal either in the High Court or the Supreme Court in the case.

After hearing arguments from both the sides, the bench set March 21 as the date for issuing guidelines.

Ohio-based Dr Shah has sued five doctors of Kolkata's Amri-Apollo Hospital for allegedly causing the death of his wife Anuradha due to their negligence in May 1998.

Kolkata Medical Council, headed by Chairman Ashok Choudhary, had heard the case and given a clean chit to all five doctors-- Dr Kaushik Nandi, Dr Shiv Kumar Mukherjee, Dr Vaidnath Haldar, Dr Abony Roy Choudhary and Dr Balram Prasad-- in the case.

On April 3, the Supreme Court will hear a plea by Dr Saha against the Kolkata Medical Council chairman for his alleged biased judgement in the case.

As soon as the proceedings began today, Counsels for the Hospital objected to the complainant speaking to the press and sought a gag order on the ''wide media coverage his case was getting''.

They contented that it was biased reportage as the views of the other side were not presented.

However, the bench, led by Justice Shah, held that the publicity does not affect the court in any way and had no bearing on the judgement.

''The wide publications about the case and the publicity has no affect on the case and is ignored,'' Justice Shah said.

Anuradha, who was visiting her parents in Kolkata, was suffering from toxic epidermal necrolysis, a form of skin allergy.

Dr Saha alleged that the doctors there "wrongly" administered a lethal steroid Depomedrol, normally given in chronic case of asthma or arthritis.

It can be given only once in two weeks even if prescribed but it was allegedly administered to her two times every day.

Anuradha, who developed serious complications, was immediately shifted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai.

She died after being treated there for 11 days.

Hospital authorities have contended that they are not responsible for Anuradha's death since she died at Breach Candy Hospital.

However, Dr Saha alleged that she was in a bad condition when she was taken to Mumbai.

UNI NR VD KN1828