This is one of those unfortunate cases where patients drag the doctors to court for not accepting unreasonable demands. Such incidences widen the gap in doctor-patient trust and relationship.
The patient, an NRI from Australia, had visited India. She underwent Root Canal Treatment (RCT) performed by the dentist at the hospital. Her father was a bank employee; he was eligible to claim treatment cost from the bank.
The cost of treatment, performed in month of March, was INR 12,000, which the patient paid.
Sometime in the month of May, she visited the dentist for follow up and requested a bill for INR 20,000. The dentist refused to revise the bill.
This refusal perhaps infuriated the NRI patient. She sued the dentist, alleging that RCT was not performed properly which was evident from the fact that she had to undergo a follow up procedure in Australia which incurred additional expenses.
She also alleged that her father was made to run from pillar to post for obtaining the treatment bill.
The doctor denied these allegations, and pointed out that the patient had demanded an inflated bill in order to claim the amount from father’s bank where he worked as a manager. The dentist further pointed out that the bill was raised and handed over to the patient in month of March and she demanded the revised bill in month of May. He could not oblige as he had filed his income tax return by then.
The Commission perused treatment records and dismissed patient’s case against the dentist, observing that she brought no evidence on record to show that RCT was performed negligently.
While the Commission did not comment on the aspect of patient’s demand of an inflated bill, this case certainly wasted everyone’s precious time and energy.
Source : Order pronounced by National Consumer Redressal Commission on 31st May, 2024.