M. SATHYANARAYANA Vs. APOLLO HOSPITALS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Aggrieved by the order in C.C.No.1082/2005 on the file of District Forum-I, Hyderabad the complainants preferred this appeal.

(2.) The brief facts as set out in the complaint are that the complainants are the parents of the deceased M.Ramakrishna who had a crush injury to his left arm on 19-12-2003 at 9.30 a.m. at Raichur district, Karnataka while he was handling paddy harvesting machine. He was immediately brought to opposite party No.1 hospital and got admitted on the same day at 8.00 p.m. On 20-12-2003 Dr.Sudhakar Prasad conducted an operation and assured recovery. On 23-12-2003, the said doctor informed that the condition of the patient became serious and that the patient had to be shifted to their main hospital. On 27-12-2003 the patient was declared dead due to cardiac arrest secondary to sepsis leading septicemia, respiratory failure, renal failure etc., It is the case of the complainant that opposite party No.1 did not give proper post operative treatment and did not anticipate the infection and due to lack of proper care, the patient died during infection. The complainants got issued a legal notice and approached the District Forum to award compensation of Rs.8,80,000/-.

(3.) Counter was filed on behalf of opposite parties 1 to 3 admitting that the patient was attended to by Dr.Sudhakar Prasad for the crush injury with laceration over the antero-lateral aspect of the left arm with compound fracture of left humerus with vascular compromise of left upper limb and Frgmin injection was given to improve blood circulation. They submitted that the patient was operated under general anaesthesia on 20-12-2003 for wound debridment, interlocking nailing of left humerous besides brachial artery and basic vein repair was done. The wound was explored and the surgery was uneventful. Post surgery, radial pulse and capillary filling of left hand was good and was shifted to ICU on 20-12-2003 at 1.45 p.m. and continuously monitored. The patient complained inability to move fingers and lower limbs etc. so potassium supplements were given. Dr.Sanjay Maitra, Nephrologist, a competent doctor attended and diagnosed hypokolemia and appropriate treatment was given to increase urine output. On 22-12-2003 the renal parameters were found high and urine output was 20 to 30 ml per hour which was due to renal insufficiency. Respiratory distress started on 22-12-2003 and hence he was intubated and sedated connecting to ventilator. Dopamine and Dobutamine drip was fixed and later the patient went into Acute respiratory syndrome with respiratory failure and due to sepsis, he suffered multi organ disfunction and monitored daily in SICU. However, on 27-12-2003, B.P. started falling followed by cardiac arrest and as such he was declared dead at 7.55 p.m. on 27-12-2003. They submitted that due to sepsis, several complications occurred and submitted that there was no negligence on their behalf and prayed for dismissal of the complaint.