New Delhi, Nov. 9 -- The Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Metro Hospital & Heart Institute, Lajpat Nagar, to pay Rs 15 lakh compensation and Rs 50,000 in litigation costs for failing to arrange a life-support ambulance and a doctor to shift a critically ill stroke patient to another hospital.
In its November 6 order, the commission, however, rejected allegations of medical negligence against the treating cardiologist, holding that the patient had been treated with streptokinase in accordance with standard medical protocols.
The complaint was filed in 2015 by Suresh Kumar's wife. Kumar, who had undergone dual valve replacement surgery at AIIMS in 2008, was admitted to the hospital in November 2013 with a clot obstructing his artificial valve. Two days later, he suffered paralysis on his right side and lost his ability to speak after a clot travelled to his brain.
The commission found that the hospital had failed in its duty of care by not arranging timely transportation and medical supervision, resulting in a deficiency in service.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.