Safdurjung Hospital to pay compensation for patient's death

New Delhi, Nov 9 (UNI) The Delhi District Consumer Forum has held Safdarjung Hospital liable for causing death by not attending and treating a patient suffering from severe brain haemorrhage.

Significance of the order lies in bringing a government hospital within the ambit of Consumer Protection Act. The Delhi district consumer forum at Seikh Sarai ordered the hospital to cough up compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the complainant.

According to lawyer R Krishnan, the patient, Kusum Lata, lost consciousness on November 4 and was immediately rushed to the Safdarjung Hospital.

The doctors did not perform either CT scan or any other diagnostic procedures, he alleged. She kept lying for five-and-a-half hours, unattended. Shifted to the Apollo Hospital later, she breathed her last.

The court held that Safdarjung Hospital could not take the plea that the services were provided free of cost. Since it was the complainant who bore the expenses.

The forum concluded that the records bore testimony of the death caused by negligence of Doctors at the Safdarjung Hospital.

UNI SSS KD MIR HT1720