RN Tagore hospital asked to pay Rs 50k compensation

Kolkata: The West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission (WBCERC), which was set up by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to fix the accountability of the private hospitals in the case of negligence in treatment, on Friday imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the R N Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences for "harassment" and "inhuman conduct".

The WBCERC also directed the private hospital authorities to pay the amount to one Namita Mahanti, a widow of Haripada Mahanti who died at the hospital. It has also asked to provide a compensation to the victim by account payee banker's cheque.

The family members of Haripada Mahanti lodged a complaint with the WBCERC alleging medical negligence by the hospital. They also

alleged that the hospital authorities delayed in releasing the body of the victim. In the compliant, the victim's wife Namita alleged that her husband was admitted to the hospital on June 30 following some ailments. After his admission, the patient complained that he was not passing stool for two days and also complained of burning sensation in his chest and abdomen. It was alleged that the hospital authorities did not take steps in this regard. They also alleged that Dr Anup Khetan despite of repeated phone calls did not visit the patient.

She also alleged that the hospital authorities delayed in communicating the news of his death to the family members. She alleged that the patient was declared clinically dead at around 8.15 pm on July 2 but when the family members visited the hospital on the next day morning, they were told that the body cannot be released by before 12 am on the next day.

Considering the degree of harassment, anxiety, mental agony and pain suffered by the family members and the unethical and inhuman conduct of the private hospital, the WBCERC imposed fine in the light of the provision of Section 32 of the Clinical Establishment Act.