Medical negligence: Bengal doc ordered to pay Rs 20 lakh compensation

A consumer court in West Bengal has slapped a Rs.20 lakh fine on a doctor for medical negligence that resulted in a three year boy losing an arm due to gangrene and subsequent amputation. The fine was slapped on medico Chandan Roy by the Hooghly District Consumer Forum Friday. He has already paid Rs.10 lakh.

Victim Sounak Patra had injured his left hand while playing at this home in the district's Chanditala area in March. The boy's father Kajal Patra said: 'When we took him to the doctor's chamber at Dhnaiakhali, he put the arm under plaster after X-ray reports revealed a fracture. But as his hand turned blackish and seemed numb, we took him to the doctor again who gave an ointment.' 'But as his condition did not improve, we took him to a private hospital in Kolkata which said the arm had to be amputated due to gangrene. We then went to a private hospital in Chennai where the arm was amputated March 29,' he said. In June, Patra moved the district court which imposed the fine on the doctor. 'He promised to pay the remaining amount within a few days,' said Patra. Roy could not be contacted for his comments.

Source: IANS