The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has found two doctors of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences Imphal (RIMS) and RIMS authority guilty of medical negligence and asked to pay compensation of above Rs 11 lacs.
The state commission led by Justice T Nandakumar Singh had ruled in favour of the family of a patient who died in 2007.
This is the first time that a consumer court has penalised doctors and the hospital authority on the grounds of medical negligence in the state.
The full bench of the commission including members M Padmeswor Singh and A Nibedita passed the order today.
The doctors are Naorem Sharatchandra Singh, MBBS, MD (MED) DM (Nephro), head of section of Nephrology, Dr Y Iboton, MD, department of medicine, and the director of RIMS.
RK Nolini wife of the deceased Shamurailatpam Gourachandra appealed to the court in 2007 against the doctors, RIMS and Imphal Hospital and Research Centre.
Gourachandra was a resident of Thangmeiband, Imphal.
Gourachandra was first taken to Shija Hospitals and Research Institute and the hospital referred to RIMS.
Dr Sharatkumar then advised the patient to be admitted to Imphal Hospital and Research Institute, where the patient was diagnosed suffering from Budd-Chiari Syndrome with Chronic Kidney Disease. Gourachandra was in the critical condition and discharged from the hospital.
Dr Sharatkumar then advised the patient to admit at RIMS. On February 2, 2007 Gourachandra was admitted to RIMS. He was attended by Dr Sharatkumar and Dr Y Iboton.
As complained the patient was required to transfuse Red Blood Cell but instead of transfusing only the RBC Dr Iboton allowed transfusion of whole blood on three occasions which deteriorated the kidney.
Both the doctors told Nolini of Haemodialysis treatment as the last resort, but didn’t take consent for possible consequences.
It was also complained that the patient was discharged with the advice to attend a well equipped hospital by issuing a certificate called “Discharge on Request” on February 13.
However the doctors did not care to provide life support equipments while discharging for transfer to the Apollo Hospital at Kolkata.
The patient was however not allowed to board the Jet Airways plane without life support equipment and also insisted on a doctor accompanying him. He died inside the RIMS ambulance on the way back to the hospital from the airport, on February 14.
The State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission found the respondents guilty of medical negligence and asked to compensate a sum of Rs. 11, 05, 000 for the loss of income of the deceased, for medical treatment cost, pain and suffering and cost of litigation.
Source: Imphal Free Press
