Chennai: Forum asks hospital to pay compensation to kin
The patient died before the scan was taken two years ago.
Chennai: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chengalpattu, has imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 on a private hospital for not refunding a fee of Rs 3,210 collected for taking scan on a patient. The patient died before the scan was taken two years ago.
In the petition, T. Senthilkumar, Pazathandalam, submitted that his father-in-law, E. Jeganathan was admitted to Sri Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chromepet on October 12, 2014. He had undergone treatment for a day. Next day, at 11 am, the doctors asked him to take a scan on the patient.
Senthilkumar paid a fee of Rs 3,120 for the scan. Unfortunately, Jeganathan’s health condition worsened and was not fit for a scan to be taken. His condition deteriorated and he died on October 13, 2014.
Senthilkumar spent Rs 23,532 for the treatment including scan test. As Jeganathan died, the hospital management did not take scan test. Hence, Senthilkumar requested the hospital management to refund Rs 3,120. The hospital refused to refund the amount. He sent a letter on October 24, 2014 to Chief Doctor of the hospital seeking refund.
In the petition, Senthilkumar sought direction to the hospital to pay him a compensation of Rs 1.10 lakh for causing him mental agony and deficiency in service.
In his reply, N. Elamaran, Managing Director, Sri Balaji medical college and hospital submitted that he was not at all connected with the administration / affairs of the hospital.
The hospital dean was a party to be included in the plaint. Not including the dean as a respondent was fatal to the complainant's case. Seeking dismissal of the complaint, the MD stated that there was no merit in the complaint.
The bench comprising president K. Sivananthajothi, members K. Prameela, and D. Babu Varadharajan said though the patient died before taking a scan, the amount of '3,120 was collected for taking scan.
The hospital was duty bound to return the money and non-payment of the amount was nothing but breach of duty. The bench directed the hospital to pay him a compensation of Rs 30,000 for causing mental agony and hardship. The bench also directed the hospital to pay Rs 8,120, including refund of '3,120.