Mohali Fortis told to pay ₹50 lakh for patient's death due to negligence
The deceased, Harit Sharma, was a practising advocate at the Punjab and Haryana high court. His dying declaration from the hospital bed, a note in which he had written that he overheard doctors discussing that his case was mishandled, served as a crucial piece of evidence.
The consumer commission held that the hospital is liable not only for medical negligence but also for deficiency in services and unfair trade practices. 'The ends of justice would meet if a lump sum compensation of ₹50 lakh is awarded to the complainants in lieu of the medical negligence committed by the hospital,' said the commission.
The complainants included the deceased's wife Priyanka Sharma and her two minor sons. They stated before the commission that Sharma had been admitted at the Fortis Hospital, Mohali, on the morning of July 28, 2021, as he suffered from acute gastric problem. He was treated by Mohnish Chabra and other attending doctors.
Before admitting him, Fortis conducted a Covid test which was found negative. It is further pleaded that as the visiting hours were restricted, the victim's wife only went to meet him between 12.30pm to 1pm on July 29, 2021.
She was told that her husband had recovered from the gastric problem and due to improvement, the patient desired to be shifted to a private ward from ICU. However, he was kept in ICU on the pretext that ascites – a medical condition characterised by the excessive accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity – was to be removed from his stomach. It was further stated that due to negligent tapping, his oxygen levels came down drastically and he had to be put on oxygen support.
The victim's wife stated that Sharma was fully conscious despite being on oxygen support and he overheard the hospital director saying that the tapping was done wrongly and that it had to be re-done. The victim revealed this to the complainant through a written note – he was unable to speak due to the oxygen mask – when she went to meet him the next day. The note read: 'Subah director had come. Director said Chabra has done wrong tapping. It will be done again.'
She attached the dying declaration as evidence in her case before the consumer forum.
A spokesperson of the Fortis hospital said they are aware of a consumer case concerning their hospital. 'As we are yet to receive the official court order, we are unable to comment on the specifics at this stage. Once the order is in hand, we will conduct a thorough review and, guided by expert legal advice, take appropriate action as deemed necessary.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
SMS first govt hosp to start Car-T cell therapy for cancer
Jaipur: SMS Hospital has established a department for treatment of blood-related cancers and other blood disorders. The department will offer advanced Car-T cell therapy to cancer patients. This innovative therapy has so far been administered to only a few patients in the state by private hospitals. SMS Hospital will be the first govt hospital to have established a separate department for clinical haematology (DCH). Car-T cell therapy is the country's first indigenous gene therapy, also known as Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy. It is a form of treatment based on genetic modifications and was developed in India at just a tenth of the cost compared to its price abroad. "We have all the resources available at our DCH for performing Car-T. It is an advanced therapy for treatment of cancer patients," said Dr Vishnu Sharma, head of the DCH department. He added that the department will provide treatment for all kinds of haematological cancers, and disorders from bleeding disorders to bone marrow transplant. The department has 20 beds for patients. "The department has been established at SMS Hospital, but it will be shifted to the state cancer institute later," Dr Sharma said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Legendary Cars from the Past Till now, only private hospitals in Rajasthan performed Car-T cell therapy. An 82-year-old woman from Jaipur holds the distinction of being the eldest recipient of Car-T cell therapy in the country. "The woman suffered from high-grade lymphoma, a cancer of lymph nodes. She was not responding to chemotherapy and other conventional treatments, due to which her lymphoma relapsed. We collected her T-cells and sent them to Mumbai to the company that manufactures Car-T cells. The patient also reached Mumbai, where she was infused with the Car-T cell almost a year ago," said Dr Hemant Malhotra, director of oncology services at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital. Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital also performed Car-T cell therapy in Dec last year.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
RFK Jr. is targeting 7-OH, Kratom? What are these and how do they affect the body?
Image credits: Getty Images After a viral TikTok video and a press conference with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., kratom, a plant ingredient, is in the spotlight. But what is it and how does it affect the body? Find out below! What is Kratom? According to the Department of Drug Enforcement Administration, kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves consist of two major psychoactive ingredients, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which are known to produce stimulant effects in low doses and sedative effects in high doses. Additionally, it can lead to psychotic symptoms and psychological and physiological dependence. What are the forms of kratom? Also known as thang, kakuam, thom, ketum and biak, kratom is used in various forms such as tablets, capsules, powder, or extract. How does kratom affect the body? At low doses, kratom can lead to increased alertness, physical energy, and talkativeness. At higher doses, it can lead to hallucinations, delusions and confusion. However, apart from such effects and addiction, kratom use causes numerous harmful effects such as nausea, itching, sweating, constipation, increased urination, vomiting, drowsiness and loss of appetite. Other effects include anorexia, weight loss, insomnia, hepatoxicity, and seizures. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Is kratom use increasing in the US? Image credits: Getty Images In the United States, the abuse of kratom has increased in the last few years. The ability of companies to put large amounts of the ingredient into otherwise innocuous-looking products has made it more susceptible to abuse, said Dr Timothy Fong, a UCLA addiction psychiatrist, to USA TODAY. "At its core, this is a plant that's been around thousands of years," Fong added. "It has been used in Southeast Asia, chewing on the leaf as a stimulant, as a way of pain relief. And now, through vast modern technology, we've created the ability to have, what I call, fast-food kratom, if you will. Different formulations. Capsules. Powders. Teas. Gummies. Smokable versions. All sorts of different things." The use of kratom has gone viral through a TikTok video where a content creator described how a teenage boy tried stealing his wallet outside a gas station after he refused to go inside to buy the boy a Feel Free tonic consisting of kratom. While earlier, Botanic Tonics, the creator of the drink, marketed the kratom tonic as a healthy alternative to alcohol in May 2024, it announced the addition of a 21-and-over restriction to its products after settling an $8.75 million class-action lawsuit. How do kratom and 7-OH differ? Kratom is the name of the complete plant ingredient, whereas 7-OH or 7-Hydroxymitragynine is its chemical by-product. While some products are derived from the entire plant, others are formulated with high amounts of 7-OH. What has RFK Jr. said about kratom and 7-OH? During a press conference on July 29, Martin Makary, Food and Drug Administration commissioner, announced the organisation's intention to crack down on products containing 7-OH. However, he also made it clear that the by-product is the organisation's focus and not kratom overall. Alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Makary announced their plan to initiate the process to have 7-OH schedules as an illicit substance. "I spent 14 years as a heroin addict, and I've been 43 years in recovery," Kennedy said during the press conference. "I've had iron willpower for most of my life. ... This compulsion was absolutely impervious to my will, and part of the problem was just the availability."
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
From bloating to kidney trouble: The hidden dangers of too much protein
Image credits: Getty Images Is there something like too much healthy or too much protein? Experts say yes, and consuming too much of the beneficial nutrient could cause more harm than gain. According to data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American adults are eating an average of 2.9 ounces of protein every day, which is roughly 20% more than the recommended amount. While one might think of this as a rather healthy habit, one that will be more nutritious for the body, it could actually lead to numerous problems, including bloating, kidney troubles and more. In this article, you will find science-backed hidden dangers of too much protein. Bloating Image credits: Getty Images According to a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, people who have a protein-rich diet are more likely to experience bloating. This happens because protein-rich diets improve the amount of gut bacteria that produce gas byproducts and thus cause bloating and digestive discomfort. Cancer risk Up to 80% of breast, bowel and prostate cancer is attributed to dietary practices. A high meat diet, particularly red meat, has consistently been found to be positive for colorectal cancer. Red meat also has saturated fat, which can lead to breast cancer as well. It can also lead to colon cancer, according to the National Library of Medicine . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like We Have No Words For Dog The Bounty Hunter's Transformation Cash Roadster Undo Kidney stones Image credits: Getty Images While high-protein diets may be promoted for weight loss and type 2 diabetes, according to the National Library of Medicine , they can worsen renal function in people with and without impaired kidney function. More than plant protein, animal protein poses a higher risk of end-stage kidney disease due to dietary acid load, phosphate content, inflammation and more. Additionally, excessive protein intake and low fluid intake can be the birth grounds of kidney stones in the body. This happens because a high amount of macronutrients in the body leads to elevated renal acid excretion, which leads to higher calcium excretion by the kidneys. This leads to hypercalciuria and, thus, kidney stones. Uric acid stones Purines, the precursors of uric acid, are mainly present in animal protein. Hence, when one consumes a high amount of animal protein, it can lead to hyperuricosuria, a condition that leads to the formation of uric acid stones. Bad breath Image credits: Getty Images If you have been struggling with bad breath for a while now, eating too much protein could be the cause. As the body breaks down protein, it produces ammonia, which is eliminated through urination and exhalation. While the odour may not be noticeable after eating small amounts of protein, the same can not be said about excessive amounts.
