2 pvt hospitals, 1 diagnostic centre fined for negligence

Kolkata: The West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission (WBCERC) has imposed fine on B M Birla Heart Research Centre, Columbia Asia Hospital and Suraksha Diagnostic Pvt. Limited, after it found negligence on their part.

The WBCERC has asked Columbia Asia Hospital to pay a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the family members of 31-year-old Baisakhi Saha, who was transfused with wrong blood type at the hospital. The patient was admitted to the hospital following abdominal pain. She was referred to a gynecologist who prescribed a blood test.

The investigation revealed that she had been suffering from an ectopic pregnancy. The doctor had also suggested an immediate operation. The patient underwent surgery and later she was shifted to a general bed as she was out of danger.

The patient needed blood transfusion later. As she was transfused with the wrong blood type, the side effects and reaction had started in the patient. The commission started a probe after the patient's husband Abhijit Saha lodged a complaint. During its investigation, it found gross negligence on part of the hospital.

In another incident, the WBCERC asked the B M Birla Heart Research Centre to pay a compensation of Rs 40,000 to Mahendra Kumar Gond and Rs 10,000 to the commission within the next 15 days, after the WBCERC found that patient had been charged in excess from the package. The patient, aged around 60, was admitted to the hospital on January 6, 2018, after he felt chest pain.

In the third incident, Suraksha Diagnostic Pvt. Ltd has been asked by the WBCERC to pay Rs 10,000 to Srilekha Raha, wife of complainant Atanu Raha, as there were irregularities in her blood tests.