Hospital told to pay up for negligence

The Delhi High Court has directed the city's Batra hospital to pay Rs 11 lakh as compensation to a man who jumped out of the hospital window due to its negligence and suffered permanent disability.

The Delhi High Court has directed the city's Batra hospital to pay Rs 11 lakh as compensation to a man who jumped out of the hospital window due to its negligence and suffered permanent disability.

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A division Bench of Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice Sunil Gaur in a judgement enhanced the compensation awarded to one Ashish Majumdar by a single judge from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 11 lakh, saying the quality of care expected from private hospitals is not ordinary but of high degree.

The Bench was hearing an appeal by the victim for enhancement of the compensation as well as a counter appeal filed by the hospital denying any negligence.

In October 1988, Majumdar, then 27, was admitted in the hospital following high fever suspected to be typhoid. When his condition did not improve, the doctors decided to change the treatment and also the medicines.

On October 31 night, after administering some medicines to Majumdar, who was attended by his sister, the doctors left him sleeping in his third floor room. In the night, his sister found that he was not in the room.

Later, it was found that the patient had jumped out of the window and suffered multiple fractures with complete dislocation of the spinal cord and now he needs wheel chair permanently.