The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Doctors told to pay up for shoddy service

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 29, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Doctors told to pay up for shoddy service

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, SEPT. 28. A city consumer forum has directed two doctors to pay a compensation of Rs. 2 lakhs jointly and severally and costs of Rs. 2,000 to a patient for deficiency in service.

They were also directed to pay Rs. 26,500 towards the expenses incurred by the patient.

Doctors are thought to render noble service to society, and they are regarded as next to God; but due to their incompetence or harum-scarum attitude, the opposite parties have proved to be `half penny two penny' doctors", the Bench of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (North), comprising K. Ramaswamy, President and V.M. Thandapani and Nagammai Karuppiah, Members, said in its order.

In his petition to the Forum, S. Sekar of Chepauk, submitted that he met with an accident in June 1991 and suffered excruciating pain in his leg.

On admission, the doctor operated on him without informing his family or relatives or the family doctor, which led to three surgeries, ultimately resulting in permanent disability.

C.S. Subramanian of Nungambakkam and G.S. Natarajan of Mylapore were the doctors cited. They submitted that the complainant was hale and healthy during the traction surgery. Later, a second surgery was advised for early mobilisation of the joint.

A cardiologist was present to meet any cardiac problem. They argued there was no cause of action and the complaint should be dismissed.

The Forum Bench said a perusal of documents on both sides with X-rays and affidavit, showed that the doctors had been negligent and the nature and manner in which the operation was performed was inadequate in quality and nature.

There was evidence of imperfection and shortcoming in their service. Dr. Subramanian himself had admitted that one Dr.S. Venkatesan, who was asked to take care of the patient's cardiac problem, was not a qualified cardiologist. He admitted he had not taken the opinion of a qualified cardiologist. Evidence revealed how the opposite parties "with an incompetent team of assistants have performed a surgery". The first opposite party admitted that heart rate would increase during surgery. His admission that he was not aware of the complainant's rate of heart beat at the time of surgery revealed a lethargic and careless attitude.

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