AIIMS report comes as saviour for cosmetic surgeon

The National Consumer Commission has exonerated a cosmetic surgeon from charges of medical negligence after an expert committee of premier health institution AIIMS absolved him of any deficiency in service in carrying out fat-removal surgery on a woman.

The National Consumer Commission has exonerated a cosmetic surgeon from charges of medical negligence after an expert committee of premier health institution AIIMS absolved him of any deficiency in service in carrying out fat-removal surgery on a woman.

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"A committee of experts constituted by AIIMS gave a clear opinion that the allegations of weakness in the patient's limbs are not connected with liposuction surgery done by the cosmetic surgeon," the Commission, headed by Justice K C Gupta, said.

The Commission absolved the surgeon, P K Talwar, of the charges of medical negligence and deficiency in service as the AIIMS reached the findings contrary to what has been alleged in the complaint of Noni Singh.

It passed the order on a plea of the complainant, seeking Rs 25 lakh compensation for medical negligence in treating her with liposuction which led to the alleged development of numbness in her body, a state of paralysis.

The Commission relied on the apex court decision which said doctors would be liable for medical negligence only if the experts committee members opined that there is a prima facie case against him.

It was necessary to avoid harassment to the doctors at the hands of police as they might not be found guilty of the charges of medical negligence, the consumer court said.

Singh approached the surgeon and gave her consent for liposuction but her health allegedly deteriorated after the operation, leading her to file a complaint against the surgeon for medical negligence in the consumer court.