Consumer forum slaps Rs3L fine on hospital

AKOLA: The Akola District Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum, headed by Suhas Untwale, has directed Orbit Children's Hospital to pay Rs three lakh compensation to Anil Kale of Malsur village in Patur taluka of Akola district for causing death of the latter's 2-year-old daughter Anushri due to medical negligence. Anushri was hospitalized at 11am on March 18, 2012. Earlier Dr SS Kale had medically examined her and referred to Orbit Hospital. Her blood sample was not sent for report till March 19, 2012. The bed number of Anushri was changed thrice. The supply of oxygen was disturbed despite the desperate father repeatedly asking the doctors to take proper care of the ailing child. Anushri died on March 21.Complainant Anil Kale had approached the forum for seeking justice against the medical negligence of the hospital management, following which the forum gave the verdict.The forum also asked the management to pay Rs2,000 as cost of the complaint. The judgment comes as a slap on the private sector healthcare system and it is also a step towards preventing such medical negligence in further, said lawyers Pravin Karule, Pravin Soni, Manoj Warghat and Nitin Kadam, who argued for the complainant. Advocate SS Sarda defended the hospital's management.