{"id":294799,"date":"2023-06-16T17:00:53","date_gmt":"2023-06-16T11:30:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=294799"},"modified":"2023-07-04T10:24:37","modified_gmt":"2023-07-04T04:54:37","slug":"no-medical-negligence-in-justice-verma-death-ncdrc-legal-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2023\/06\/16\/no-medical-negligence-in-justice-verma-death-ncdrc-legal-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Know why NCDRC rejected claim of medical negligence in Justice Verma’s death"},"content":{"rendered":"
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National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission:<\/b> In a complaint by the wife, and children of Justice J.S. Verma, Former CJI seeking directions to the three hospitals and treating doctors to pay exemplary damages and compensation of Rs 10 Crores alleging medical negligence in Justice Verma’s treatment resulting in his death, the Presiding member, Dr S.M. Kantikar and two members namely, Ram Surat Ram Maurya and Dr Inder Jit Singh dismissed the complaint holding that there was no negligence on the part of the doctors who treated Justice Verma.<\/p>\n

It was stated that the instant complaint was filed pursuing the principles of Justice J.S. Verma – \u201cto ensure that the guilty do not go unpunished.\u201d It was stated that Justice Verma was diagnosed with asymptomatic coronary artery disease in 1993, managed well by a healthy lifestyle. Following a complete executive check-up in 2012, significant abnormal liver function was revealed, but no further investigation or medication was recommended. After a swelling developed in his left leg, Justice Verma was admitted to the Nursing home (Opposite party) wherein, he underwent treatment from 12-03-2013 to 14-03-2013 and diagnosed with irregular heart rhythm, followed by several tests clearly showing significantly deranged liver function and very significantly abnormal blood clotting. After prescribing suitable medication, he was discharged on 14-03-2013 and continued medicines for 3 months. He experienced bleeding in April, which was informed to the doctor concerned, but did not get any further instructions and told to continue the prescribed medicines.<\/p>\n

A few days later, he felt unwell with significant gastrointestinal bleeding during his visit to Mumbai, had several blood vomiting while travelling, immediately got admitted and six units of blood and plasma was transfused to cover blood loss. Endoscopy at Fortis Escorts Hospital revealed bleeding from ulcer and not oesophageal varices. Multiple transfusions created fluid overload in lungs which caused acute breathing problem and citrate in transfusion bound blood calcium. It was alleged that the attending doctors failed to properly manage the complications and Justice Verma was shifted to Medanta Hospital, and worsening of fluid overload and a deteriorating cardiac status due to multiple transfusions was revealed. Complaining about the suboptimal management of Medanta Hospital, it was stated that cardiac arrest after few hours of admission could not be reversed, Justice Verma was intubated and ventilated, but could not survive and passed away on 22-04-2013.<\/p>\n

Complaint of Medical Negligence<\/b><\/p>\n

The instant complaint points fingers at negligence on part of doctors in treating liver dysfunction, prescription of combination of drugs while ignoring Justice Verma’s condition, ignorance of going through test reports before prescribing medicines, delay in endoscopy, negligent transfusion of blood and plasma not followed by methods to flush out excess body fluid, shifting to Medanta hospital without pre-consultation, poor management at Medanta hospital in treating a critical patient, etc.<\/p>\n

Further allegations were made against the Chairman and Managing Director of Medanta who allegedly caused \u2018severe mental trauma and distress\u2019 to the family by breaching patient privacy, divulging detailed medical history of Justice Verma on national TV.<\/p>\n

Complaint was filed before the Medical Council of India against erring doctors for negligence and professional misconduct, eventually referred to and dismissed by Delhi Medical Council on 10-06-2014. The same was appealed before MCI on 23-06-2014, while the instant complaint was filed on 10-04-2015. Appeal before MCI was also dismissed on 21-09-2015, which was challenged before Delhi High Court and disposed of vide order dated 11-10-2017 directing MCI to constitute an Expert Committee. The said Committee also exonerated the treating doctors.<\/p>\n

The Commission noted the Expert Opinion by Delhi Medical Council and MCI, which found absence of negligence on part of treating doctors at the three hospitals at any stage.<\/p>\n

The Commission relied on Jacob Mathew<\/i> v. State of Punjab<\/i>, (2005) 6 SCC 1<\/a>, Malay Kumar Ganguly<\/i> v. Dr. Sukumar Mukherjee<\/i>, (2009) 9 SCC 221<\/a> and Kusum Sharma<\/i> v. Batra Hospital<\/i>, (2010) 3 SCC 480<\/a> denying doctors\u2019 liability if the patient does not favourably respond to the treatment.<\/p>\n

The Commission required proof of \u2018four D’s\u2019 for a successful claim of medical negligence:<\/p>\n