Chennai: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Kanchipuram has ordered a private hospital, Gleneagles Global Health City, and its consultant doctor to pay Rs 16.36 lakh as compensation. This decision came after a patient suffered a paralytic stroke following a Right Middle Cerebral Artery (M1 Segment) Intracranial Stenting procedure.
The commission found that the consultant doctor, Dr. Satheesh Grahadural, lacked the requisite qualifications and was not registered with the Tamil Nadu Medical Council to perform the procedure. The hospital was also held negligent for hiring Dr. Grahadural without verifying his credentials. The commission noted deficiencies in the consent forms and medical records provided by the hospital.
The case dates back to 2017 when the complainant’s wife was diagnosed with seizure symptoms and was advised to undergo stenting to address a 90% blockage in a brain artery. The patient experienced significant deterioration post-procedure, including a paralytic stroke. The complainant alleged that the surgical procedure was hastily recommended and performed without adequately explaining the risks involved.
Despite multiple counseling sessions, the patient’s family claimed they were not properly informed about the potential complications. The commission also highlighted discrepancies in the documentation of consent and procedural notes, indicating potential manipulation to cover up negligence.
Both the Tamil Nadu Medical Council and the Regional Medical Board at Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital had cleared the doctor and hospital of negligence. However, the commission criticized these bodies for not thoroughly examining Dr. Grahadural’s qualifications and competency.
Referencing the Supreme Court rulings in Dr. Laxman Balkrishna Joshi v. Dr. Trimbak Bapu Godbole and Jacob Mathew v. State of Punjab, the commission emphasized that medical professionals must ensure their treatment approaches are reasonable and not solely reliant on professional opinion to escape liability.
The commission concluded that the hospital and doctor were guilty of medical negligence and ordered them to compensate the patient’s family Rs 16.36 lakh for mental agony, deficiency in service, and unfair trade practices, including Rs 6.36 lakh for treatment expenses and Rs 25,000 for litigation costs.