Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Apr 27: Dakshina Kannada Consumer Grievances Redressal forum has passed an order, directing three doctors, namely Dr Harish Chandra, Dr P J Yermal and Dr K Pushpalatha Pai working at a private hospital here to pay compensation of Rs 10 lac to a patient, after concluding that he had been unnecessarily subjected to a surgery and subsequent suffering amounting to medical negligence.
Mukesh from Kotimura here was suffering from stomach cramps and discharge of stools that was watery and mucous-like. He consulted a doctor from the city on July 2, 2009. Mukesh was subjected to biopsy and colonoscopy on July 4. The colonoscopy examination revealed that there was a big swelling and tumour in the colon. The doctors continued with traditional treatment methods but there was no improvement in his condition. After Mukesh met the same doctor on July 16, he prescribed sigmoidoscopy test and on the basis of biopsy report, Mukesh was subjected to surgery of the colon and he was asked to get admitted into the hospital for chemotherapy.
The patient did not show improvement in response to chemo therapy. He started to vomit stools. Thereafter, samples taken from the parts of the colon which was surgically removed during the operation were sent to KMC Hospital in the city, Nandikur laboratory, and Piramal Diagnostic Centre Mumbai for testing besides subjecting them to lab test in the hospital itself. The reports from all the laboratories said that there were no signs of presence of any malignancy. They concluded that the patient was suffering from only solitary rectal ulcer and not cancer.
Mukesh approached Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum, accusing the doctors of medical negligence. President of the forum, Vishweshwar Bhat, who conducted the hearing, came to the conclusion that the three doctors involved were guilty of medical lnegligence. He opined that surgeries conducted on Mukesh were unwarranted. The forum has therefore asked these three doctors to pay compensation of ten lac rupees to Mukesh.