Consumer panel hits out at PGI

Aneesha Sareen

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 22

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has lambasted the PGI in the detailed order pertaining to the Anupama case and stated that such a prestigious institute should not work in a bureaucratic manner.

“Medical surgeries, operations and other emergency treatments are to be administered keeping in view the nature of ailment, seriousness and other exigencies according to the best judgment of the treating doctor. In the present case, it is an admitted fact that the condition of the patient was quite serious from the time she was admitted to the hospital. Keeping in view the nature of the ailment from which the patient was suffering, the PGI should not have insisted on red tape. On the other hand, it is really unfortunate that due to the bureaucratic approach and red tape adopted by the PGI, the precious life of a young girl could not be saved,” said the commission.

The commission also took note of the inquiry conducted by eminent doctors which stated that “it would have been appropriate for the treating team to periodically reassess all patients and reprioritise the OT schedule according to the seriousness of this case vis-à-vis the other cases. The mechanism of injury of this patient should have raised a high index of suspicion that the patient had sustained a ‘crush injury’ on the thigh and was likely to develop serious complications. However, the team decided to stick to its previous waiting list and hence this patient could not be taken for surgery till July 19, 2012”.

“The complainants have lost their only child, who was aged about 16 years. Only the parents of the child know the trauma they have had to go through in the past several years, and for the future also, they have to bear  with this irreparable loss. No amount of money can compensate their sufferings and agony since the complainants had high hopes from their brilliant daughter,” said the commission.

A Bench comprising Justice VB Gupta and Dr Suresh Chandra, while pronouncing the orders in the open court yesterday, had held that Anupama’s parents were entitled to a total compensation of Rs 20 lakh instead of the Rs 10 lakh awarded by the state commission earlier.

The national commission had enhanced the compensation by Rs 10 lakh in addition to the Rs 7 lakh granted against the PGI by the state commission, Chandigarh, and Rs 3 lakh, which has already been paid by the CTU.

In April 2013, the Sate Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh, had ordered the PGI and the CTU to pay Rs 7 lakh and Rs 3 lakh, respectively, to the parents of 16-year-old Anupama, who died at the premier institute in July 2012. An appeal was filed to enhance the compensation amount before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.

It was contended by advocate Pankaj Chandghotia that Anupama was the only daughter and her parents were rendered childless due to the negligence of the PGI. The external inquiry conducted by the PGI, in its report submitted in August 2012, said Anupama should have been given priority for the operation.