It is the bounder duty of doctors / hospitals to explain in detail about procedure and inherent risks associated with it. And it goes without saying that an informed consent must be obtained before proceeding with the procedure. A hospital recently found itself on the wrong side of law for not adhering to this basic protocol.

There is an alarming rise in number of instances where doctors and hospitals are held negligent for not maintaining medical records appropriately. Adverse inference is usually drawn in such instances, as this case demonstrates.

Deviating from a planned intervention ought to be done after informing the patient of such a deviation, and another consent has to be obtained before proceeding with any such deviation.

Vasanthakumari had approached the hospital for the delivery of her baby. The doctors at hospital administered drugs to induce labour, and a baby girl was delivered.

Little did the jubilant couple know that their joy was short lived.

Freak accidents and mishaps do occur in almost every profession, healthcare is no exception as such. But the ‘freak quotient’ of this unique case is such that it may force hospitals and pathology labs to take better notice of it.

To err is human, to ignore is not. A hospital in recent past realised meaning of this modified adage, albeit at the cost of a child and her parents.

A diagnostic centre recently lost its goodwill and money as it was held negligent by the West Bengal State Consumer Commission. However, the patient almost lost a lot more than that.

A typographical error may not necessarily be a deliberate attempt to cover up details. There could be several instances, such as this, where a ‘bona fide’ error is made.