The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) also held the hospital and concerned doctors guilty of negligence as they failed to explain as to how the 37-year-old woman's blood count had dropped drastically after surgery.
"In view of the fact that counsel for petitioner (CHL Appllo Hospital) was unable to explain the reasons for the drastic drop in the hemoglobin count..., we are inclined to agree with the finding of the fora below which are the courts of fact that the doctors were deficient and negligent in the treatment of the patient.
"For the above reasons, we agree with the finding of the state commission and uphold its order. The petitioners are directed to jointly and severally pay the respondent, Rs four lakhs and Rs 1,000 as litigation cost," the NCDRC said.
The bench presided by Justice Ashok Bhan gave the order dismissing the CHL Apollo's plea against the Madhya Pradesh State Consumer Commission's order holding the hospital "guilty of medical negligence" and increasing the compensation awarded by the district forum to Rs four lakhs.
The district forum had directed the hospital to pay Rs two lakh as compensation and Rs 1,000 as litigation cost after allowing the complaint of widower Ashish Sanyal.
In his complaint, Sanyal had alleged that the hospital was negligent in the treatment of his wife as the surgery was done even though her hemoglobin (blood) count was very low and the concerned doctors were not present either when her condition became serious.
The Hospital in its defence had contended that its doctors were professionally qualified, it was well equipped to conduct such surgeries and it had taken all necessary precautions. (MORE)
