The Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission recently held a private hospital in Pune and an orthopedic surgeon guilty of medical negligence for failing to detect a hip fracture on time. The Commission directed them to jointly pay Rs. 85,000 as compensation to the patient, along with 6% annual interest. In addition, Rs. 25,000 was awarded for mental and physical harassment, and Rs.
10,000 was granted toward legal expenses. The State Commission overturned an earlier decision by the Pune District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, which had dismissed the complaint due to a lack of expert evidence. In its ruling, the State Commission observed that the negligence lay specifically in the delayed detection of the hip fracture. While the patient had sought compensation under several heads, the Commission limited the award to surgical and related expenses, noting that any…
