Published Aug 17, 2022 | 5:49 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 17, 2022 | 5:49 PM
The patient alleged that while performing the procedure, due to the negligent handling of the equipment, her bladder was incised by the doctor. (Creative Commons)
The Telangana State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Rainbow Hospital in the Banjara Hills area of Hyderabad and a doctor from the hospital to pay ₹5 lakh for a botched laparoscopic surgery.
The complainant, A Madhavi, a resident of Kondapur in Hyderabad, was suffering from an irregular menstrual cycle since September 2012. She was examined by Dr Pranati Reddy of the hospital in May 2013 and was advised to undergo a laparoscopic hysterectomy.
The patient alleged that while performing the procedure, her bladder was incised by the doctor due to the negligent handling of the equipment. “This incision occurred on account of gross negligence by the doctor and the hospital, and they are responsible for the damage and immense pain suffered,” the complainant told the commission.
She added that due to the incision, she had to stay longer at the hospital, and her suffering from a weak bladder, compounded by incontinence, continues.
The doctor and the hospital in a submission to the commission said that possible complications can occur during surgery in the best of hands, and urinary bladder injury is an anticipated complaint of hysterectomy.
“We recognised the bladder injury and a senior urologist was called immediately to repair the bladder injury. There was nothing casual about the way the complainant’s injury was handled and there was no act of negligence committed by us,” said the doctor and hospital in their submission.
Hearing the arguments and taking into consideration the submissions from both sides, the commission observed that the hospital and the doctor provided the complainant the best medical attention and the urologist confirmed that the bladder had healed well.
The commission observed that the patient had suffered due to the complications and extra expenses incurred because of the tear in the bladder during the procedure. Therefore, she needed to be compensated for the expenses incurred, it said.
The doctor reportedly assured the patient that care would be taken for all the complications arising out of the injury and also the financial considerations for the treatment.
“We feel it is reasonable to compensate a sum of ₹5 lakh to the complainant for the injury suffered during the laparoscopic procedure and the ensuing complications,” it ordered.
