Sarla and Pritam were worried parents of a six year old boy who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The young lad was admitted several times over a period of two-and-half years at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where he was under the care of Dr. Sikha and Dr. Sachdeva.

Most patients do not understand that medicine is an imperfect science. This lack of awareness coupled with decisions they themselves take more often than not proves to be a harrowing experience for doctors and hospitals, as this case demonstrates.

Healthcare providers are bound to follow basic protocols such as taking signature on consent form, maintaining medical records and ensuring appropriate facilities in an ambulance while transferring a critical patient. Not doing so can result in serious outcomes, both for patient and the doctor or hospital. 

Healthcare providers are responsible not only to provide treatment and care, but also to inform the patient and relatives / attendants about diagnosis and prognosis. Not doing so is negligence, and this case is an example of the fact. 

Dev Raj, a farmer from Haryana, injured his right eye while harvesting the crop and approached Dr. Manocha. The doctor diagnosed     redness and swelling in the eye and prescribed medicines.

Yusuf, a police constable, suffered compound fractures on his left hand and approached Dr. Wasade who performed a surgery to insert rod and plates. The patient developed infection at the operated site and instead of following up the doctor’s advice of bone grafting, he approached another doctor who performed another surgery.

The patient had stones in the gallbladder and in common bile duct (CBD) and hence was taken to Roy Nursing Home where Dr. Biswas performed a surgery to remove them.