Hyderabad hospital ordered to pay Rs 20 lakh for medical negligence

A Hyderabad consumer panel has directed a hospital and neurosurgeon to pay Rs 20 lakh compensation after finding a deficiency in post-operative care following spinal surgery. The complainant later underwent emergency revision surgeries in the United States.

Hyderabad: Holding a city-based hospital and a consultant neurosurgeon responsible for medical negligence, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission-I in Hyderabad has ordered Venkateshwara Ortho Health Care to pay Rs 20 lakh in compensation.

According to multiple reports, the case is from March 2021, when a US-based endocrinologist visiting the city underwent spinal surgery at the facility. The reports have indicated that a protective membrane tear occurred during the procedure. Although initial repairs were made, the patient subsequently suffered a persistent fluid leak from the surgical site.

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According to the commission’s findings, rather than performing standard secondary suturing upon readmission, the caregivers applied surgical adhesive without properly informing the patient, media reports have indicated.

The complainant later returned to the United States, where local specialists discovered fluid accumulation and bone debris, requiring him to undergo emergency revision surgeries.

While the defence maintained that standard protocols were followed, the consumer panel ruled that there was a clear deficiency in post-operative care. The bench directed the hospital and the doctor to pay Rs 20 lakh compensation, along with Rs 50,000 for litigation expenses within 45 days.