The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC), Maharashtra, recently overturned a District Consumer Commission order that had found a doctor guilty of medical negligence following a patient’s death after childbirth. The Commission ruled that the doctor was not responsible for the complications that led to the patient’s death and dismissed the Rs 5 lakh compensation previously awarded. The history of the case dates back to 2011, when the patient consulted the treating doctor for pregnancy care and delivery. She was admitted to the doctor’s hospital with labour pain and delivered a healthy baby, the complainant in the case, at 9:00 p.m.
on April 23, 2011. After verifying that all parameters were normal and at the patient’s request, she was discharged on April 26. However, on May 2, she returned to the hospital complaining of abdominal pain. She was advised to undergo a…
