Death by negligence: Secunderabad Sunshine Hospital asked to pay Rs. 5 lakh to family of a deceased

Hyderabad: Karimnagar District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission has directed Sunshine Hospital, Secunderabad, to pay Rs. 5 lakh to the family of a patient who died allegedly due to the hospital's negligence.

Chinnaiah, a resident of Ramagudem, Karimnagar, was admitted to Sunshine Hospital, Secunderabad in August 2015 for treatment of back pain. After investigation, he was advised to undergo surgery for the fusion of L2, L5vertebrae. After the surgery, the patient was discharged in September 2015 and the hospital charged Rs.2,41,483.

The family alleged that during the period of treatment, the patient developed an infection in the operated area. The doctor prescribed medicine and the problem became severe at night on the day the patient was discharged.

The patient was again admitted after two days. Five days later he died while undergoing treatment. The cause of death of the patient was shown as septic shock and other reasons.

The family alleged that Dr.G.P.V. Subbaiah of the hospital failed to take proper care during the treatment of the patient. The patient caught an infection at the operation site which led to his death. The family said that had the proper care taken, the patient would have survived.

In its submission, the hospital said after evaluation by the cardiologist, anesthetist, and others, the patient was advised to undergo surgery. The patient was diagnosed with post-operation delirium and was advised to be treated in ICU.

After stabilization, the patient was shifted to the ward for treatment. The patient was discharged in stable condition with appropriate antibiotics/analgesics. "The patient was admitted to the hospital with a complaint of unconsciousness and he was shifted to ICU. The patient was diagnosed with Encephalopathy secondary to septicemia and his condition was not improving. The patient developed cardiac arrest in the second week of September and died eventually. All the doctors properly treated the patient to the best of their ability and the satisfaction of the members of his family," said the hospital.

Hearing the argument, the commission said going by the death Summary, the patient's sensorium dipped and he was intubated. The patient encountered two episodes of cardiac arrest and on both occasions, he was resuscitated. However, when he developed cardiac arrest on his final day, the patient could not be revived despite having been kept on CPR. The cause of death was noted as "septic shock" decompressive L2-L5 Laminectomy; old CVA and HTN".

"Hospital is held guilty of negligence and deficiency in service while treating the patient prior and after performing surgery. The patient was a known alcoholic, he suffered from multiple complaints before reporting to the hospital. The life span of alcoholics suffering from such ailments as Low Blood Pressure, radiating both LL, ADL, Caludicaiton pain +, SLRT-90/90 would considerably decrease the life span of an individual. The negligence of the hospital contributed to aggravating the ailments that the patient was suffering from before the time he was admitted to the hospital," said the commission.

The commission asked the hospital to pay Rs.5 lakh to family as compensation.