Indian News

Four-year-old twins from Punjab to get Rs 70 lakh each for sight loss

Source: , Posted On:   22 January 2021

CHANDIGARH: Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered compensation of more than Rs 70 lakh each to four-year-old twins from Pathankot who were rendered blind for lifetime due to medical negligence.
In its judgment the commission headed by Justice Paramjeet Singh Dhaliwal said it stands clearly proved that Pathankot-based doctors — Dr Pankaj Sharma, his wife Dr Trupti Sharma and Dr Surjit Singh — were grossly negligent by not screening the twins for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) as per standard medical protocol.
“Although the loss of vision cannot be compensated in terms of money, yet in view of the law laid down… the age of the twins (Bhavik and Bhavish Mahajan)... and the facts of the case, we award lump sum compensation of Rs 70,00,000 each to the complainants, along with interest at the rate of 7% per annum from the date of filing of complaints till realization,” said the judgment.
Compensation amount to be paid by 3 docs
The amount has been ordered to be paid by the three doctors on account of loss of vision due to sheer medical negligence and deficiency in service and resultant mental agony, avoidable pain, sufferings caused to the complainants and their parents and medical expenses. “Blindness is the most severe form of visual impairment which reduces the person’s ability to perform daily tasks and move about unaided. It affects the individuals, their family It hampers development, education, future social life, martial and economic prospects,” the commission said.
The twins were born prematurely at a private hospital in Pathankot on January 25, 2017. After their parents were told by the doctors in Pathankot in May 2017 that the twins were suffering from ROP Stage-5, they got the babies examined at PGIMER, where the eye specialist said it was too late for treatment.
When the babies were taken to AIIMS , the parents were informed that there was no treatment for this stage of illness in the country. Thereafter, the parents flew the twins to pioneer eye hospital Sankara Nethralaya in Chennai. But after carrying out eye surgeries of the twins, doctors found that their retina had not reattached due to certain complications and that the babies have no visual potential. The father thereafter approached the consumer commission in December 2018.

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