New branch of People for Better Treatment in Chennai vows to fight against medical negligence

Chennai:

After winning a legal battle against a Kolkata based hospital for medical negligence due to which his wife passed away, US-based Dr Kunal Saha is now planning to generate awareness about ‘medical negligence’ and patient’s rights in Chennai.

Addressing a press conference, Dr Saha, who won a compensation of Rs 11 crore, the highest in medical history, says that the new branch of People For Better Treatment (PBT) would be set up in the city to highlight patient’s rights besides underscore the pervasive corruption in health care system.

Flanked by Chhattisgarh bureaucrat Alex Paul Menon, who was also one of the victims of medical negligence as his close relative passed away in a reputed hospital in the city, Saha said that medical negligence and corruption go hand in hand.

He said that being a doctor he understands the limitations of doctor in curing a patient but then medical negligence is totally a different thing.

He said that in India, no doctor’s licence has been cancelled due to medical negligence. Saha said that people in India don’t have any awareness about medical negligence. “If they suspect negligence, nearly all lack the idea on whom to approach. Many of the patients don’t know about their rights besides there are no records or medical history of the people,” he says.

Saha also said that in India there is also no regulation on hospitals. “While some hospitals may be charging Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 for a MRI scan some demand Rs 12,000 for it. The issue is there is no regulatory body to look into it,” he said alleging that some members’ records in the medical council of India is questionable.

Interestingly, Menon highlighted his experience in getting the medical records of his father-in-law, who he lost due to gross medical negligence. “I am a civil servant but even my plight was worst in getting the medical records of my father-in-law from Bill Roth hospital. Then think about how much difficult it would be for a common man,” he said. It was only when the state bureaucrats took up the case that the hospital handed over the medical reports to Menon.