Complaint against PGI doctors dismissed

CHANDIGARH: The State ConsumerDisputes Redressal Commission, UT, dismissed a complaint against PGI director,head of neurosurgery department, PGI, Dr V K Khosla, Dr Promila Chari and DrKajal Jain holding that the complainant H S Tulli had failed to substantiateallegations made in the complaint regarding alleged negligence and deficiency inservice which allegedly led to the death of the complainant’s wifeMohinder Kaur on March 14, 2001.H S Tulli, husband of deceasedMohinder Kaur, had alleged that due to negligence and carelessness by doctors ofPGIMER and due to deliberate acts and omission, the complainant lost his wife atPGI.Tulli claimed refund of expenses of Rs 50,000 and compensationof Rs two lakh for attendants, Rs five lakh for loss of income and Rs 10 lakhfor damages due to mental discomfort.Tulli alleged that the doctorsat PGI did not perform open brain surgery for clipping aneurysms of his wife onMarch 9 and 10 despite his repeated requests. The patient’s conditiondeteriorated and she died on March 14, 2001.PGI contended that thedeceased patient could not be operated upon in PGI since the attendants did notgive any written consent for open brain surgery.The commissioncomprising president K K Srivastava held that the evidence indicated thatdespite persistent request by Dr V K Khosla no consent was given and hence therewas no occasion to perform open brain surgery.The commission heldthat Dr Khosla did not himself postpone the open brain surgery of the patientbut it was indecisiveness on part of the attendants to seek second opinion whichdelayed procedures and prevented doctors from doing open brainsurgery.The commission held that Dr Promila Chari and Dr Kajal Jainwere not negligent or deficient in rendering service by not providinganaesthetist for the said surgery.The commission observed thatparallel inquiries are being made by the UT administration and police in thecase.