A woman who complained of prolonged pain and bleeding for months after a Caesarean section delivery has received ₹3 lakh in compensation after a consumer commission in Haryana ruled that the doctor and hospital were negligent in their treatment.
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Yamuna Nagar also directed the doctor and hospital to pay ₹11,000 as litigation expenses. On October 12, 2026, the commission reportedly cited the doctor’s failure to investigate the woman’s ongoing symptoms or provide complete treatment records as the reason for its decision.
According to the order, the woman did not receive adequate treatment, and the gynecologist failed to conduct a sufficient evaluation and investigation into her continued pain and bleeding.
The woman gave birth to a baby girl via Cesarean section on February 19, 2022, and was discharged on February 21, 2022, according to the reports.
She alleged that she continued to experience abdominal pain and bleeding after leaving the hospital and went to the gynecologist for a follow-up. She reportedly continued to have pain and sought further treatment, but her condition did not improve.
Additional medical tests reportedly revealed that the woman had retained products of conception (RPOC) and a blood clot in her uterus. RPOC refers to any pregnancy-related tissue that remains in the uterus following birth or pregnancy loss and can lead to bleeding.
The woman underwent a dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure on June 4, 2022, to remove the clot at the same hospital. A D&C involves dilating the cervix and scraping tissue from the uterus lining. Despite the procedure, the woman continued to complain of pain and bleeding.
The woman then went to another hospital in Gurugram, where she underwent a procedure on September 9, 2022.
The woman filed a complaint with the consumer commission against the doctor and hospital that initially treated her. She demanded compensation for her treatment costs, mental agony and future treatment, alleging that the doctor failed to provide the necessary care and investigations following her C-section, leaving her to experience pain and bleeding for months. .
The doctor and hospital denied the allegations, stating that they provided the woman with the appropriate treatment after her C-section. They also disputed the medical reports submitted by the woman and sought dismissal of the complaint.
Women can experience pain and bleeding in the days and weeks following childbirth, including a C-section. However, if the pain persists beyond the normal recovery period or becomes more severe, it may be a sign of an underlying issue.
A review paper, Persistent Pain After Childbirth, published in BJA Education in 2022, looked at the incidence of persistent pain after vaginal and Caesarean births and its possible causes, symptoms and effect on postnatal care.
The authors note that chronic postsurgical pain is generally described as pain that occurs or worsens after surgery and does not improve over the expected recovery time of three months. The pain may also not have an obvious source.
The review estimated that between 6.9%–30.7% of women delivered by C-section experienced Caesarean scar pain three months later, although the numbers varied depending on the pain assessment criteria used.
The review also highlights the effect of postnatal pain on women’s lives, pointing out that it interferes with everyday activities, sleep, mood and overall wellbeing.
Persistent pain following a C-section delivery does not necessarily indicate that something has gone seriously wrong during the procedure. It may be caused by a number of conditions, such as tissue damage or nerve pain. A thorough clinical assessment is needed to determine the source of the pain.
Retained products of conception (RPOC) can cause abnormal vaginal bleeding and other complications after pregnancy. Infections, subinvolution of the uterus and other issues can also lead to similar problems.
The exact tests to be conducted will depend on the woman’s presenting symptoms, history, physical examination and overall condition. A pelvic-ultrasound examination can help identify retained products of conception or other complications.
The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends in its postnatal care guidelines that women see a doctor immediately if they have persistent or worsening vaginal bleeding, abdominal or pelvic pain with additional troubling symptoms, fever, chills or unusual vaginal discharge. These symptoms may be a sign of retained placental tissue, infection or other postnatal complications.
NICE also advises women to seek medical advice without delay if they experience sudden or very heavy vaginal bleeding, pass clots or placental tissue, or have increasing bleeding after childbirth.
In the case before the consumer commission in Yamuna Nagar, the woman’s gynecologist did not recommend the appropriate tests, such as an ultrasound, to identify the cause of her pain and bleeding following her C-section.
In its ruling, the commission cited the woman’s prolonged suffering as a result of the doctor’s and hospital’s failure to investigate her complaints. It recommended ₹3 lakh compensation to the woman.
The commission reportedly pointed out that the hospital provided inconsistent information regarding the woman’s treatment. Although the doctor and hospital claimed to have performed a dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure on June 4, 2022, they did not have the complete treatment records for that day on file. Additionally, the histopathology report mentioned in their defence was not available.
The commission also reportedly found contradictions in the hospital’s written statement regarding the woman’s follow-up visit and treatment. It observed that the doctor continued treating her based on guesswork despite her persistent symptoms. The commission further criticized the hospital for allegedly manipulating its records in its defence. These were findings reported from the commission’s order, not independent determinations outside the case.
Maintaining thorough and organized medical records is critical for healthcare providers. It helps to ensure that the patient receives continuous, high-quality treatment. If a patient goes to another facility for treatment, the medical records can help the new doctor or hospital to understand the history of the illness and the treatment that has been administered so far.
In this case, the consumer commission reportedly took the hospital’s failure to produce the required documents seriously and drew an adverse inference based on their failure to submit the best evidence available.
The commission ruled that the doctor and hospital were negligent in their treatment of the woman and engaged in unfair trade practices by failing to take proper care of her. It ordered the doctor and facility to pay ₹3 lakh in compensation in addition to ₹11,000 in litigation expenses.
According to EndorphinMD’s case analysis, the compensation order also provided for 7% annual interest from April 1, 2024, until payment, increasing to 9% if the amount was not paid within 45 days. These interest terms should be checked against the original commission order before publication.
The ruling highlights two key areas of post-C-section care: the need to properly assess and investigate a woman’s complaints following the procedure and the importance of maintaining complete and accurate medical records.
While some pain and bleeding are to be expected after a C-section, persistent pain and abnormal bleeding should not be ignored. If a woman continues to experience pain and discomfort after her initial recovery, she should speak to her doctor to rule out any complications.
The case also underscores the importance of complete and correct medical records. The records serve as a reference for the treating physician and may be required if the patient seeks a second opinion or visits another facility. Without the relevant patient records, a doctor may not be able to provide the appropriate treatment.
The case reminds doctors that appropriate tests and investigations must be conducted if a patient has ongoing concerns following a procedure. It also serves as a reminder to patients that they can ask their doctor about the appropriate course of action if they continue to experience pain or discomfort.
Finally, the case is not an indictment of all C-section procedures. It serves as a warning to both patients and doctors that although post-surgical pain and discomfort are normal, they should not be normalized if they persist.
De Winter, J., H. De Raedemaecker, J. Muys, and Y. Jacquemyn. 2017. “The Value of Postpartum Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Retained Products of Conception: A Systematic Review.” Facts, Views & Vision in ObGyn 9 (4): 207–216. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6143083/.
Sundararajan, S., S. Roy, and L. T. Polanski. 2024. “The Accuracy of Ultrasound Scan in Diagnosing Retained Products of Conception: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 230 (5): 512–531.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2023.11.1243.
Tan, H. S., and B. L. Sng. 2022. “Persistent Pain after Childbirth.” BJA Education 22 (1): 33–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjae.2021.09.001.
Yagur, Y., et al. 2023. “Ultrasound for Diagnosis of Postpartum Retained Products of Conception—How Accurate We Are?” BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 23: 572. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05863-4.
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