The problems faced by patients due to the doctors' negligence is not uncommon. But until recently I have just heard them but recently I experienced a similar problem. My uncle, the sole breadwinner of his family was admitted to a famous hospital, to cure a abcess in the left thigh. He was first taken to a nearby clinic, but my aunt took him to the good hospital because it was difficult to conduct the required medical tests at different places. She was aware of the financial implicatins but there was no way around. My uncle was examined and was adviced immediate surgery and was later told to continue with the antibiotics prescribed. Even after six months the pain hadn't subsided and further tests revealed that a guage pack had been left behind while conducting the surgery. Then we took up the matter with the hospital but the hospital washed their hands off any responsiblity and said that the mishap occured due to the surgeon's fault and they had no hand in it. I sought a consumer organisation for advice and was informed about a recent ruling of the National Commission disallowing a similar defence of a hospital and holding that hospitals could not absolve from such liability, since doctors were engaged through hospitals and not due to any seperate contract between patients and doctors. Armed with these facts we approached the hospital hoping that justice would be rendered. But we are yet to receive a proper response.
All this is because hospitals work like commercial establishments and try to please their shareholders. It is high time that hospitals take their responsiblity seriously and turn accountable towards patients who repose faith in them.
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