Paediatrician slapped Rs 7.5 lakh compensation for 4-year-old's death after court finds treatment without necessary tests

Kolhapur: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed a Sangli-based paediatrician to pay Rs 7.5 lakh compensation to the mother of a four-year-old girl, who died after treatment. While considering the complaint filed by the patient's mother, the District Consumer Court ruled that the treating doctor provided 'deficient service' as necessary tests were not performed before beginning treatment. It was alleged that the symptoms indicated dengue or malaria. However, the concerned doctor did not carry out the required tests even though the laboratories were available in the town. The history of the case goes back seven years, when the patient, a four-year-old, was admitted to the hospital under the care of the paediatrician. Her mother alleged that her daughter died due to a delay in receiving the correct treatment. Also Read: Belagavi Hospital surgeon accused of removing patient's intestine instead of tumour Commenting on the matter, the counsel for the complainant, the patient's mother, told The Times of India, "This case was rare since the treatment was carried out without relevant tests. The symptoms clearly indicated dengue or malaria, but the specific tests were not carried out despite laboratories being available in the town. Even after the platelet count declined rapidly, the doctor went ahead with the treatment without understanding the cause. It was a fit case of medical negligence." A Jat-based MD doctor also testified before the Commission and said that without the tests, the treatment could not be carried out as a basic thumb rule in the profession. The Commission, while considering the matter, found that the concerned paediatrician carried out the treatment, considering that the illness was a viral infection. Accordingly, on August 14, the Consumer Court directed the paediatrician to pay Rs 7.5 lakh as compensation to the plaintiff along with interest from the date when the complaint was filed. Further, the doctor was ordered by the consumer court to pay an additional Rs 1 lakh for mental anguish and Rs 20,000 towards legal costs.