The Nellore District Consumer Forum has directed Narayana Hospital and its doctors to pay ₹5,11,490 in compensation to Shaik Maqsood, a construction worker from Gandavaram village in Kodavalur mandal, for medical negligence. The ruling was issued following a complaint filed by Mr. Maqsood, who suffered permanent impairment due to unsuccessful surgeries and inadequate post-operative care at the hospital.

The case dates back to November 28, 2009, when Mr. Maqsood was admitted to Narayana Hospital after a work-related fall. Following an examination, the attending doctor recommended surgery for a long bone fracture, which was performed on December 1, 2009. After his discharge on December 12, the patient returned to the hospital in February 2010, complaining of severe swelling and persistent pain in his hand.

Upon further evaluation, Mr. Maqsood was diagnosed with radial nerve neuropraxia, a condition causing nerve damage. A second surgery was carried out on February 26, 2010, but it failed to restore his hand function, leading to palmar paralysis and 67% impairment of his hand. Despite undergoing physiotherapy at the same hospital, the treatment did not result in any improvement.

The dissatisfied patient subsequently filed a case with the Nellore District Consumer Forum in 2012, accusing the hospital of medical negligence. However, the hospital management denied the allegations and failed to provide key medical records, which the court noted as an additional failure on the hospital’s part.

After reviewing the available evidence, including medical opinions and a government-issued disability certificate, Judge Ginka Reddy Sekhar ruled that the doctors had been negligent in performing both surgeries and had failed in their duty of care toward the patient. The court held the hospital responsible for Mr. Maqsood’s suffering and awarded compensation accordingly.

The hospital has been ordered to pay ₹5 lakh for the patient’s physical and mental suffering, ₹1,490 for medical and physiotherapy expenses, and ₹10,000 to cover the costs of the legal complaint.

The court has directed the hospital to comply with the order within 45 days of receiving it. If the payment is not made within the stipulated time, the hospital will be required to pay interest at a rate of 9% per annum. Both surgeries had been conducted under the Rajiv Aarogyasri Scheme, a healthcare initiative.

This ruling underscores the responsibility of healthcare providers to offer proper treatment and post-operative care, ensuring accountability for errors that result in patient suffering.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Ankur Deka/MSM)