New Delhi, June 2nd, 2011

The National Human Rights Commission has recommended that the Delhi Government pay rupees one lakh as monetary relief to the next of kin of Pappu who died due to negligence on part of the doctors of Guru Gobind Singh Government Hospital in Delhi. The Commission has also directed the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi to submit a compliance report along with proof of payment.

The Commission took up the case on a complaint filed by Deepak, the brother of the deceased. In the complaint it was alleged that Pappu, aged 17 years, under went a surgery for hernia at Guru Gobind Singh Government Hospital at Raghubir Nagar on the 17th January, 2010. However, his condition deteriorated after the surgery and the doctors failed to attend him promptly. Pappu breathed his last on the same at 8.30 pm.

On consideration of various reports and material on record, the Commission found that Pappu lost his life due to negligence on part of the doctors. The autopsy surgeon in his report indicated medical negligence and sought to refer the case to the Delhi Medical Council. The Delhi Medical Council found that after the surgery there was continuous bleeding in the peritoneal cavity. However, the doctors failed to take appropriate action in time on complications associated with blood loss, which resulted in the death of the patient.

In its proceedings, the Commission observed that the doctors involved in the surgery of Pappu were government functionaries; hence, the State is vicariously liable for their acts and omissions and therefore, it has to compensate the next of kin of the deceased.

*****