On NHRC recommendations Delhi Government pays Rs.1 lakh as relief in a case of medical negligence (20.10.2014)

PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi, 20th October, 2014

With the persistence of the National Human Rights Commission in a case of medical negligence, the Government of NCT of Delhi has finally paid rupees one lakh as monetary relief to the next of kin of 17 year old Jeetram, who died in the Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP) on the 1st August, 2011. He was referred to the LNJP Hospital by Satyawadi Raja Harishchandra Hospital in a serious condition. He kept lying in the ambulance in the premises of the LNJP Hospital for two hours due to non-availability of ventilator and subsequently died.

The enquiry report observed that such incidents of referral of serious patients from peripheral hospitals to LNJP Hospital and other Tertiary Care Centres is a common practice because of non-availability of ICU and super-speciality services. In this case, it is apparent that the Medical Officer in Emergency Department of LNJP Hospital showed gross insensitivity towards the serious patients referred by another hospital of Delhi Government and failed to respond to the request of the Junior Resident Doctor accompanying the patient.

On the basis of the material on record and the enquiry report, the Commission held that it was a clear case of medical negligence involving violation of human rights of Jeetram. It also said that under the circumstances, the State could not escape its liability of providing relief to the next of kin of the deceased.

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