Hospitals and doctors must be careful when they communicate with patients in writing. And once any commitment is made in black and white, it must be fulfilled at all cost.
Recently, Kalyan Memorial Hospital was penalized for failing to adhere to their promise made to the patient.
Mrs. Dubey had approached the hospital for infertility treatment where the doctors had charged fees for same. However, the patient was informed after some time that her endometrium had not properly developed properly for embryo transfer.
This was not the reason the patient approached State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Madhya Pradesh. The allegation was that the doctors could’ve informed her about this fact before they charged entire package fees in advance.
The doctors stated that ultrasonography, hysteroscopy and laparoscopy were performed and the patient was called for embryo transfer but she expressed her inability to continue the treatment. Moreover, the patient’s husband had also given a consent for the procedure, concluded the doctors of Kalyan Memorial Hospital.
The Commission seemed unimpressed by the defense, as it stated the following: “It is pertinent to mention that the patient had sent legal notice to Kalyan Memorial Hospital who in their reply offered the refund of balance amount, as an option, if the patient was not interested in proceeding with the embryo transfer procedure. However, we observe that they have not refunded any such amount”.
The hospital was ordered to refund balance treatment amount along with an additional amount of ten thousand rupees as compensation.
Source: Order pronounced by State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Madhya Pradesh on 2nd November, 2018.