Gujarat: Hospital to pay Rs11 lakh in medical negligence for causing man's death

A doctor's negligence in Gujarat ended up in the death of a patient as he removed kidney instead of kidney stone. The Gujarat Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered the hospital to pay Rs11.23 lakh as compensation to the victim's relatives in the 2012 case.

Ahmedabad: A hospital in Gujarat has been directed to pay Rs 11.23 lakh as compensation to the kin of a man who died after a doctor removed his kidney. Devendra Bhai Rawal, a resident of Nadiad was admitted to KMG Hospital in Balasinor, Mahisagar district, to get his kidney stone removed in 2011.

The Gujarat Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ordered the hospital to pay compensation holding it responsible for the doctor's negligence, directly or indirectly. While Rawal had given consent for the removal of his kidney stone, the doctor removed his kidney. Within four months, he died and his relatives filed a complaint with Consumer Commission alleging negligence of the hospital.

The commission observed that the hospital is not only responsible for the lapse but also for the negligence of its staff. The commission ordered the hospital to pay this compensation along with 7.5 per cent interest since 2012. The commission also mentioned in its order that the hospital has an insurance policy for indoor and outdoor tests, but the insurance company is not responsible for the medical negligence committed by the consulting doctor.

Rawal died on January 8, 2012, while undergoing treatment in Institute Of Kidney Disease And Research Centre (IKDRC) Hospital, Ahmedabad after his condition worsened.