Death due to negligence: Family of victim demands Rs 12 cr compensation from Apollo

Family members of a victim who died of alleged medical negligence filed a case with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) seeking a compensation of around Rs 12 crore from the Apollo Gleneagles Hospital authorities.

The hospital has also moved to the NCDRC filing a counter petition saying that there is no question of paying a compensation to the victim's family members.

Dr Kalyani Das Sarkar, the wife of the victim Ashok Kumar Das, a retired chemical engineer who died of alleged medical negligence in March 2016 lodged a case seeking compensation. A circuit Bench of NCDRC of Justices Ajit Bharihoke and Mrs Rekha Gupta heard the case of medical negligence seeking compensation of Rs 12 crore. The patient died following some complications from a simple investigation to test the status of the heart (cardiac angiogram) due to gross medical negligence by Apollo doctors including cardiologist Dr Aftab Khan.

Tuesaday's hearing was on an application moved by Apollo hospital seeking to dismiss the case on grounds of "inflated compensation" claim. The court rejected the application filed by Apollo to dismiss this huge compensation case as the court held that it would decide how much compensation to be awarded at the time of final disposal. The case has been listed for further hearing on merit of negligence on November 13, 2017.

It may be mentioned here that Apollo Gleneagles may have to provide compensation in connection with another negligent death as the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission (WBCERC) is likely to impose monetary penalty on the death of Kuheli Chakraborty a few months ago. Though the commission is yet to decide on the exact amount, commission sources said, the health panel is likely to spell out the quantum of penalty.