GMCH to pay Rs 8 lakh to family members

New Delhi, February 2

The apex consumer commission has directed the Chandigarh-based Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH)to pay Rs 8 lakh to the family members of a burn victim who died after being shifted to a bed that was not disinfected.

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) held the hospital guilty of medical negligence while rejecting its plea against a district forum order holding him liable, which was upheld by the State Commission.

“The District Forum and State Commission after elaborate discussion rightly came to the conclusion that after death of Praveen Kumar (another patient) on bed number one, victim Hitender Kakkar was reshifted on the same bed the same day without disinfecting it, which amounted to aggravation of infection.

“The complainant’s other witnesses had mentioned that even bedsheets were not changed. The counsel for the opposite party (hospital) could not bring to my notice any evidence on record to dispute aforesaid factual aspect,” an NCDRC Bench, presided by KS Chaudhari, said.

“In such circumstances, it can safely be observed that after the death of Kumar and before shifting Kakkar on the bed, it was not disinfected by the hospital which amounted to medical negligence and deficiency on their part,” it said.

According to the complaint, Kakkar was admitted to the hospital on October 26, 2008, with 50 per cent burn injuries (second and third degree) due to fire crackers on his neck, chest, both upper limbs and face.

On November 7, 2008 morning, another burn patient Praveen Kumar was admitted and allotted Kakkar’s bed but after Kumar’s death within a few hours, Kakkar was re-shifted to that bed which was neither sterilised nor disinfected and led to deterioration of Kakkar’s condition and death later that day.

It was alleged that Kakkar contracted infection, due to the negligence of the hospital staff and callous attitude of doctors.

However, the hospital authorities denied the allegation and claimed that the cause of death was septicemia consequent upon burn injury and that the patient was treated with utmost care and attention, and was given due standard treatment, as per the established protocol. — PTI