Genesis Hospital directed to refund over Rs 3.5L to patient

Kolkata: The West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission (WBCERC) on Thursday directed the Genesis Hospital to return Rs 3,68,889 to a patient after the commission spotted negligence on the part of the hospital.

A patient Pranab Ghosh was admitted to the hospital for gall bladder surgery under a package of Rs 80,000. The patient was supposed to be released within two days. However, the patient was kept one day extra and was allegedly not given adequate medical attention during the release as he suffered from sepsis. The patient was later admitted to the same hospital five times but he was not properly cured. The patient’s family had initially paid Rs 80,000 to the hospital but later they paid a total Rs 3,68,889 additionally to the hospital for the treatment of the patient.

While hearing the case, the WBCERC observed that the hospital had some negligence. Had they provided adequate attention, the patient’s health situation would not be complicated. Hence, the WBCERC directed the private hospital to return the amount of Rs 3,68,889.

The council also made its observation that the patient’s family members can move the West Bengal Medical Council to fix accountability on the treating doctor. The commission also observed that there was negligence on the part of the hospital. The patient would not have suffered from sepsis if he was given adequate attention while being released, the commission said.

WBCERC chairperson justice (retired) Ashim Banerjee also directed the state Health department to keep a tab on the private hospital so that such incidents never happen again.

The commission also said that the patient was not cured ever after multiple admission at the same hospital after the incident. The patient was later taken to two private hospitals in the city where the patient was treated as well.