Sangita’s unfortunate fall from stairs caused quite a bit of rumble for a hospital where she went for treatment. The fall caused pain in her left ankle and back, and was rushed by her family to the hospital’s emergency ward. The attending doctors performed diagnostic tests to ascertain if the patient had suffered a fracture or head injuries.
It was a very busy day at the hospital and the test reports came in slightly late. Although the reports confirmed that the patient had not suffered any grave injury, her father insisted on hospitalization. The doctors explained the worried father that there was no need for the patient to be hospitalized, and when he agreed and left the hospital it seemed that the chapter had closed.
The hospital got a rude shock as the patient’s father sued them for keeping the patient waiting for a long time and issuing an inflated bill!
The hospital clarified to the Commission that the patient suffered minor external injury and was appropriately attended and treated by the doctors. The hospital also stated that it took slightly longer to prepare the reports as there were more OPD patients than usual that day.
Having perused the treatment records and OPD papers, the Commission stated the following: “The patient was appropriately taken care of and the reasons for delay in admission, paper work was explained to the patient’s father. If we consider the situation of a hospital on an extremely busy day, the delay cannot be termed deficiency in service rather she was guided by a sentimental or emotional issue for not taking care instantly though it was sufficiently explained what prompted the hospital authority to treat the patient on proper time”.
The hospital, of course, was held not negligent.
Source: Order pronounced by State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, West Bengal on 17th April, 2019