Dr Rajiv Wadehra, Medical Superintendent GMSH-16 and Director Health and Family Welfare, Chandigarh Administration has been summoned by the Chandigarh State Consumer Commission, to explain why Suman has not been paid the full amount of compensation as per the orders of the consumer forum.
Suman was admitted to GMSH-16 on December 16, 2010. Here she became the victim of wrong transfusion as a result of which she lost her nine-month old fetus and her kidneys due to the medical negligence meted out to her.
A thorough magisterial probe in the case indicted House Surgeon Dr Manpreet, Intern Dr Navdeep and lab Technician Kirti Sood of GMSH of medical negligence.
The Contempt Case regarding non-payment of compensation amount to Suman by the GMSH, Sector 16, came up for hearing on Friday before the UT State Consumer Commission. District Attorney Jatinder Singh sought for more time to make the payment of over Rs 4.50 lakhs as the Administration was yet to approve the payment. He produced a letter written by the DHS to Secretary Health in this regard.
Pankaj Chandgothia, counsel for Suman pointed out that the said letter was not for approval but for seeking legal opinion and the Hospital authorities were deliberately not paying the amount due of over Rs. 4.50 lakhs. In the absence of the payment, Suman's family was suffering.
Dr Rajiv Wadhera, had earlier filed an affidavit before the State Consumer Commission admitting that full payment had not been made to Suman by GMSH, because it had no means to recover the amount from the three guilty doctors, as they were no longer in its employment.
He also admitted that no appeal had been filed against the compensation orders, but it had paid one-fourth amount as it was only one of the four parties.
The State Commission headed by Justice (Retd) Sham Sunder rejected the contention of the Hospital and passed orders dated August 19, 2013, holding that it was liable to pay the full amount.
Upon failure to pay, the Commission on Friday issued summons and show cause notice against Dr Rajiv Wadehra, DHS to appear personally on October 14.