Mumbai: Hiranandani hospital fined Rs 8 lakh in a 14-year-old death case

Mumbai: The state consumer court recently rapped the Hiranandani hospital in Powai for medical negligence and levied a fine of Rs 8 lakh.

The case pertains to the death of a 73-year-old woman, 14-years-ago.

According to a complaint filed by the victim's daughters, in August 2005, the lady was admitted to the hospital with a urinary tract infection (UTI). While the treatment was underway, she was discharged and was asked to conduct a urine test every 15 days. However, after she vomited blood, she was again admitted to the hospital on November 18. Taking into consideration her existing diabetes and breast cancer, she was shifted to ICU after consulting a nephrologist, neurologist and oncologist. However, she breathed her last on November 24 due to organ failure.

Following her death, the daughters had approached the consumer court and demanded Rs 19 lakh compensation for giving wrong reports and negligence in treatment. However, the hospital authorities opposed the application, due to which the court rejected their demand in the final hearing.

The daughters then appealed to the state consumer commission through advocate Geeta Khanuja

During the hearing, the consumer court observed, "Considering the existing health issues, it was important for doctors to take more precautions. However, it did not happen and the hospital also delayed the diagnosis of the illness. The family had to bear the trauma and also had to lose a life as a result."

Apart from the Rs 8 lakh fine levied on the hospital, the court fined Rs 1 lakh each to the doctors under whose observation the patient was treated, and directed to give the amount to the victim's daughter with nine per cent interest for every year. The court also asked the doctors and the hospital to give Rs 25,000 each, towards legal expenses.