A consumer court in Hyderabad has held a private hospital and a spine surgeon liable for medical negligence after a woman developed permanent disability following spinal surgery for Grade I spondylolisthesis. The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission-2 directed the hospital and surgeon to jointly pay Rs 50 lakh in compensation, along with Rs 20,000 toward litigation costs, concluding that the surgery was unnecessary and that conservative treatment options should have been considered first. The case dates back to 2019, when the patient was diagnosed with Grade I L5-S1 spondylolisthesis.
She was admitted to a private hospital in Hyderabad, where the consulting spine surgeon performed L5-S1 stabilization and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion surgery the following day. According to the patient, she had been told surgery was the only available option and was assured of a…
