This is an interesting case and even perhaps a lesson in proper record keeping.
Santosh Devi had visited Kailash Hospital & Research Centre with complains of abdominal pain, vomiting, motions and headache. She was admitted to the ICU and discharged in a stable condition in a couple of days.
About two or three days later, the patient approached SMS Hospital where she was diagnosed with appendicitis and her appendix was removed.
As soon as she was back on her feet, Santosh Devi rushed to State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Rajasthan alleging Kailash Hospital & Research Centre of misdiagnosis and providing wrong report.
It was alleged that Kailash Hospital & Research Centre could not diagnose that she had appendicitis. Moreover, she was treated based on the report of another patient, and that is gross negligence, alleged the patient.
Kailash Hospital & Research Centre had diligently maintained the treatment records which were presented before the Commission. And in the end, that is what saved them.
From treatment charts and records, the Commission observed that the patient was treated after Sonography of entire abdomen was done. The Commission rejected patient’s claim of receiving treatment based on another patient’s report as it was observed that the other patient had done Sonography only of lower abdomen. It was perhaps a simple mistake that the other patient’s report was delivered along with the patient’s, and that is not a ground to declare anyone negligent.
Although the patient may have not liked the fact that the verdict was not in her favour, she perhaps quietly understood that it was her over zealousness that caused her all the trouble.
Source: Order pronounced by State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Rajasthan on 10th April, 2018
ARCHIVES
2023
July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 20232022202120202019201820172016
ART / Surrogacy Laws