New Delhi: Expressing grave concern over the medicos’ apathetic attitude towards patients in hospitals, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has said in present days the Hippocratic Oath, taken by doctors at the time of joining the service, “is at stake”.
Justice J M Malik (presiding member) and S M Kantikar (member), while hearing a revision petition in a case of medical negligence, on Sep 9 observed that medical ethics are being violated by some medical professionals, which has led to demoralized health services to the poor who lost their precious life.
The case dates back to August 6, 1999 when V Karuppiah admitted his wife Thangam to a government hospital at Rajapalayam in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu for her third delivery. On August 9, he was informed that caesarean delivery of Thangam would be conducted at 10 am. The assistant civil surgeon Dr S Alagusundarammal instead of attending to Thangam attended another delivery following which Thangam was taken to the operation theatre at 11.25 am where she gave birth to a female child. However, she died within half an hour of the delivery.
The Commission said in this case due to deficiency in service by the doctor, Karuppiah lost his wife and the newborn baby was deprived of her mother’s love and feed from birth.
Dismissing Dr Alagusundarammal’s petition on grounds of lacking merit as well as huge delay, the NCDRC directed the doctor to pay Karuppiah Rs 50,000 along with 9 per cent interest from the complaint date and imposed further punitive costs of Rs 50,000.[Source]
Be the first to comment