Medical error in circumcision; Consumer court orders Rs 50 lakh compensation

MALAPPURAM: A consumer court ordered Rs 50 lakh compensation for a victim of medical negligence. The Malappuram District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission issued an order against a private hospital and a doctor. The compensation of Rs 25 lakh will be for the ordeal the child went through due to the medical malpractice, and another Rs 25 lakh for future surgeries.

The decision was made by the commission, whose president is K Mohandas and whose members are Preethi Sivaraman and Muhammed Ismail CV. The order also states that Rs 25,000 will be paid towards court expenses. The commission also states that if the amount is not handed over to the complainant within 30 days of receiving the order, an additional nine per cent interest will be charged from the date of filing the complaint.

A serious lapse occurred during the circumcision of a 23-day-old baby. The incident in question took place in April 2018. The baby, who developed an infection after the circumcision, was admitted to Amala Hospital in Thrissur and later to Jubilee Mission Hospital. He was treated in the intensive care unit for about two weeks. The baby was discharged from the hospital on the advice that future surgeries would be required.

The child's infection was found to be due to the hospital's lack of basic facilities required for surgery and the doctor's lack of experience. An investigation conducted by an expert team led by the District Medical Officer and health vigilance found the lapses, including the doctor's lack of experience.