Roorkee: The Haridwar District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (DCDRC), a district consumer court, has slapped a fine of Rs 12.5 lakh on a Dehradun-based multispeciality hospital on the complaint of a 23-year-old Muntazir (who uses only his first name). Muntazir alleged he was admitted in the hospital for treatment with a fractured leg, but doctors “amputated his limb and made him disable for the rest of his life”.
The resident of Jainpur Jhainjhedi village in Landhaura near Roorkee had met with a road accident in June last year when his motorcycle collided with a tractor. In the accident, the man’s lower portion of his right limb got severely fractured. His family took him to the hospital in Dehradun. Doctors, according to him, amputated his leg and discharged him within six days, charging over Rs 2.3 lakh.
The matter came to light when Muntazir’s family took him to another hospital where doctors informed them that the surgery done earlier was “completely wrong”. Muntazir approached the consumer court the next month.
Though the court issued notices to the hospital to appear for the case, hospital authorities reportedly did not turn up during the hearing. Hence, the court went ahead with its order.
“We had asked for a claim worth Rs 15 lakh, besides medical expenses. The court has slapped a fine of Rs 12,52,638 (including counsellor’s fee) on the hospital to pay within a month’s time, or else a 6% bank interest will be added on the penalty,” Shrigopal Narsan, the man’s counsellor said on Monday.