The patient delivered a premature boy. The infant was under the care of a pediatrician along with other doctors. He developed some eye-related problems and hence the parents took him to an eye specialist who subsequently referred them to a specialty eye hospital.
The infant was diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) at this hospital. The parents perhaps could not see anything but fault with the pediatrician and hospital where the boy was delivered. Both were sued by the couple.
It was alleged that the infant was administered ‘excessive’ oxygen which caused ROP. The pediatrician ought to have advised us to take our boy to a higher center or an eye specialist, further alleged the parents.
"That is exactly what I did", stated the pediatrician in defense, and also denied that the infant was administered excessive oxygen.
Citing medical literature, the Commission observed that broadly, there were eight reasons that could cause ROP – oxygen therapy was just one of those. It was further observed that the parents were referred to an eye surgeon but did not do so immediately.
Their case against the pediatrician and nursing home was dismissed.
Source: Order pronounced by Odisha State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission on 5th October, 2021.
