Diagnostic centres / pathology labs ought to be careful before providing reports of medical investigations. It goes without saying that signing authority i.e. pathologist / radiologist / sonologist must accurately ascertain patient’s details and findings of the investigations.

The patient experienced sharp back pain, and hence, consulted the doctor. Tests reported renal stone. Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) was performed, and the patient was discharged after a couple of days with an advice to follow up after fifteen days.

Suffering from unbearable pain again, the patient followed up before the advised date. CT scan revealed presence of a foreign particle in her left kidney.

She consulted another doctor, who advised surgery to remove the foreign particle.

A young girl was bitten on thumb by a poisonous snake. She was rushed to the hospital by her father, where she remained admitted for five to six days. Unfortunately, gangrene developed on the thumb and it had to be amputated.

A pregnant lady was under the care of a gynaecologist. At full term, C-section was performed and a healthy child was delivered. However, the patient developed post-op complications. She bled profusely which necessitated an open surgery.

Things went from bad to worse; the patient had to be transferred to another hospital where despite critical care treatment, she passed away.

This medical negligence case is full of contrasting statements by the doctor.

A patient from poor financial background had approachedhe doctor t for removal of ureter and kidney stones. He was a Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY) beneficiary.

An operation was performed, but the patient did not get any relief.

He sued the doctor and alleged that the RSBY card was snatched and confiscated by him, and he also demanded additional money during follow up visit, whereas no treatment was provided.

A senior citizen lady approached the ophthalmologist with complaint of gradual loss of vision in both eyes. The doctor diagnosed cataract in the right eye, performed an operation.

Post-operatively, the patient experienced sharp pain in the operated eye and there was no improvement in vision either. The doctor prescribed medications and suggested that the pain would subside and the vision would improve.

The patient consulted another doctor. Tests revealed that the lens inserted during the operation had subluxated towards the left, and nothing could be done about it.

The patient, a diabetic doctor, suffered from some heart problems. He consulted cardiologist at a reputed private hospital. Angiography revealed two blocked arteries; the third artery was ballooning.

Angioplasty was performed, two blocked arteries were stented.

About four months thereafter, the patient experienced pain in the chest. He consulted another cardiologist at the same hospital. This cardiologist performed angioplasty to stent the third artery.

Unfortunately, the patient-doctor suffered brain haemorrhage, A neurologist was consulted, albeit after delay. The patient was shifted to another hospital for ventriculostomy, also after much delay.