Victim to get `10 lakh compensation

A patient, who underwent hip replacement in 2009, developed foot-drop syndrome, approached the Consumer Forum for justice

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-1 in a hard-hitting order directed Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Secunderabad and Dr A V Gurava Reddy to pay a complainant Rs 10 lakh compensation for deficiency in service and hardship, inconvenience and metal agony caused to a patient. The forum directed them to refund Rs 5.77 lakh spent by the complainant for treatment.

Y Ramadevi, the complainant, had been suffering with juvenile rheumatic arthritis (RA) since her childhood. After marriage, she gave birth to a child. She found it difficult to carry out day-to-day activities. She had consulted Dr Gurva Reddy, Chef Orthopaedic and Consultant Joint Replacement at KIMS hospital. After examination, the doctor found she had bilateral arthritis hip secondary Juvenile RA. He suggested total hip replacement by way of surgery for permanent cure.

On May 14, 2009 she underwent surgery for the replacement of hip of the right leg and on May 20 hip of left leg. As there was numbness of her lower leg, a physiotherapist conducted necessary exercises in the hospital.

Ramadevi claimed that the doctor was aware of the condition, but took it lightly and advised her to continue physiotherapy. He said during the course of time she would recover from foot-drop. On the insistence of the Ramadevi’s husband, the doctor made an endorsement in the discharge summary with his own hand writing. The patient developed left foot-drop syndrome after surgery. Ramadevi paid Rs 5,77,346 to the hospital towards investigations, room rent, medicines and surgeon fee.

However, one month after the physiotherapy and exercises, she consulted Dr Gurva Reddy, who by then started his own hospital Sunshine Hospital. He advised her to continue the physiotherapy at her house in Visakhapatnam. After three months, she once again consulted the doctor. He said that foot-drop syndrome of left lower limb was present and there was history of sensory impairment and swelling of foot. The doctor advised her theraband exercise and prescribed a tablet.

Meanwhile, in 2011, a nerve conduction study report was taken at KGH in Visakhapatnam. The medical board at KGH issued orthopaedic handicapped certificate stating that the disability of Ramadevi was 60 per cent and the condition was non-progressive. Now she is almost bed ridden. She approached the Hyderabad Forum.

After careful examination, P Vijender, president of Forum and Anabheri Latha Kumari, Lady Member asked KIMS hospital and the doctor to pay Rs 5.77 lakh with nine per cent interest. The hospital and the doctor should pay Rs 10,000 towards costs of the court, they ordered.