New Delhi, Oct 24 (IANS): NRI doctor Kunal Saha, awarded Rs.5.96 crore compensation Thursday for his wife's death due to medical negligence, said the judgement should rekindle hope for countless victims.

The Supreme Court ordered the Kolkata-based AMRI Hospital to pay the compensation for medical negligence resulting in the death of Saha's wife, Anuradha, in 1988.

Terming the judgement as historic, Saha said it should tell many honest and caring doctors it is time to step forward and cleanse the system.

"If you let a few corrupt and politically connected doctors to run the show, all doctors will continue to share the blame and will never be able to restore public trust that we had not so long ago," he said in a statement.

Apex court judge Justice V. Gopala Gowda passed the order on an appeal by Saha who had challenged a compensation of Rs.1.72 crore awarded by the National Consumer Forum. Saha lives in the United States.

The apex court earlier held some doctors of the hospital liable for criminal liability.