Bengaluru Woman Wins Rs 5 Lakh Compensation for 20-Year-Old Surgical Negligence

A Bengaluru woman named Padmavathi has been awarded Rs five lakh by the Karnataka State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission for medical negligence. Nearly 20 years after a 3.2 cm surgical needle was left in her body post-surgery, the forum directed the hospital and doctors involved to pay her compensation and litigation expenses.

In a landmark decision, a Bengaluru-based woman named Padmavathi has been awarded a compensation of Rs five lakh by the Karnataka State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. This comes nearly 20 years after a surgical needle measuring 3.2 centimeters was left inside her body following a surgery at a private hospital.

The Commission has mandated that the hospital and two doctors perform medical negligence pay Rs 50,000 in litigation expenses to Padmavathi, a resident of Jayanagar. New India Assurance Co Ltd, the insurance company covering the hospital, is also directed to pay her Rs five lakh.

In September 2004, Padmavathi underwent surgery at Deepak Hospital, during which her appendix was removed, and a surgical needle was left inside her. She suffered years of pain before another private hospital discovered the foreign object in 2010. After the needle was removed, she approached the consumer forum, leading to the recent compensation order.

The order noted that Padmavathi suffered significant pain and inconvenience and is entitled to 'global compensation' of Rs five lakh, while the two doctors involved must cover the litigation expenses.

(With inputs from agencies.)