The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, led by Justice Ram Surat Maurya and Mr. Bharatkumar Pandya, rejected an appeal against Akshaya Hospital, affirming that doctors with an MD in Medicine are adequately qualified to treat ICU patients without requiring additional intensive care training.
Case Summary
The complainant’s wife was admitted to Akshaya Hospital’s ICU due to uneasiness. Despite the hospital’s designation as a specialty heart center, she was not examined by senior doctors, with her care managed by junior staff and homeopathy assistants. The complainant raised several issues, including insufficient monitoring, inappropriate medication, lack of informed consent, and possible manipulation of medical records. The patient’s unexpected death was attributed to cardiac-related issues, but the complainant contested this diagnosis, citing discrepancies with earlier test results and ECG readings. The complainant argued that the hospital’s lack of senior doctor involvement, improper medication use, and inadequate monitoring could have contributed to her death. The State Commission of Madhya Pradesh dismissed the complaint, prompting the complainant to appeal to the National Commission.
Hospital’s Defense
The hospital countered the complainant’s claims, asserting that nitroglycerine (NTG) and other medications were administered correctly and that the attending doctor’s presence negated the need for senior doctors. The hospital refuted the existence of junior doctors and claimed that all staff, including doctors, were properly involved in the care. They noted that a second ECG indicated the patient’s condition had stabilized before she experienced cardiac arrest, despite immediate resuscitation efforts. The hospital attributed the cardiac arrest to the patient’s history of uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension, emphasizing that acute coronary syndrome (ACS) often involves complications like those experienced by the patient. They defended their treatment practices, detailed the administration of NTG and other drugs, and described the patient’s condition upon admission, arguing that there was no deficiency in service and that the complaint should be dismissed.
National Commission’s Observations
The National Commission reviewed the competency of the doctor assigned to the ICU, finding that an MD in Medicine is sufficiently qualified for ICU duties without additional intensive care training. The commission noted that the patient’s medical history was accurately recorded upon admission. The hospital’s explanations for the NTG administration and informed consent were deemed satisfactory, with no evidence of negligence or excessive NTG dosage. The commission found that the patient’s vital signs were monitored appropriately and remained within acceptable ranges during treatment. Ultimately, the commission concluded that the hospital provided adequate care and found no deficiency in service.
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