Medical negligence: Victim's father to consult advocate

A day after the Supreme Court ordered Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, to pay a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to a victim of medical negligence, Alfred Benedict, father of the victim Sandria Rinu, on Wednesday said he would decide on the further course of action after consulting his advocate.

The family had approached the apex court seeking a direction to the hospital to pay them Rs one crore as compensation.

Benedict told Deccan Herald that his advocate was “unhappy” with the quantum of compensation. “After discussing with the advocate tomorrow, we will see what to do next.”

Recalling the tragic circumstances 11 years ago, Benedict said his daughter, then a toddler, was hospitalised with cough and cold. She later developed a gangrenous arm which had to be amputated. This, after the needle was wrongly inserted into the artery instead of vein, following which the blood supply to the forearm was blocked.

The girl, now 12, is currently in Canada with her mother and sister. “She was studying in Sophia School in Bangalore. Now, she is not doing anything much,” he said.

Benedict said the child’s medical expenses were huge, since each time the battery of the artificial limb was to be replaced, it cost them Rs 20,000.

Manipal Hospital Director Dr H Sudharshan Ballal said, “The family demanded Rs one crore and approached the Supreme Court. We believe all was done in good faith to save the child. However, we respect the law of the country and abide by the Court’s decision.”

Manipal Hospital and its four doctors were directed by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in 2013 to pay Rs 5.1 lakh as compensation for their negligence. Dr Meera Ramakrishnan, vascular surgeon, Dr Vasudeva Rao, Dr Arvind Shenoy and Dr Jayanth Iyengar were found guilty by the Forum.