Kolhapur: A doctor in Sangli has been ordered by the district consumer court to pay Rs7.5 lakh to the mother of a four-year-old girl who died after receiving treatment. The court ruled that the doctor provided "deficient service" by failing to perform necessary tests before beginning treatment.The incident occurred about seven years ago when the girl, Avantika Sagar Sale, was admitted to the hospital run by paediatrician Vidyadhar Patil. Her mother, Sheetal, claimed that her daughter's death was caused by a delay in receiving the correct treatment.On Aug 14, the consumer court ordered the doctor to make the payment with interest from the date the complaint was filed. The doctor was also ordered to pay an additional Rs1 lakh for mental anguish and Rs 20,000 towards legal costs.Shailendra Kelkar, advocate for the complainant mother, said, "This case was rare since the treatment was carried out without relevant tests. The symptoms clearly indicated dengue or malaria, but the specific tests were not carried out despite laboratories being available in the town. Even after the platelet count declined rapidly, the doctor went ahead with the treatment without understanding the cause. It was a fit case of medical negligence."Shalivahan Pattanshetti, a Jat-based MD doctor, testified before the commission. He also said that without tests, treatment cannot be carried out as a basic thumb rule in the profession. The commission found that the paediatrician carried out the treatment considering the illness as viral infection.TOI tried to reach the paediatrician, but he was not available for comment. Legal experts said that in such cases, the defendant can settle the case by paying a compensation as per the judgment delivered by the commission or challenge it before the state consumer disputes redressal commission.