New Delhi: A medical institute would be held liable for any negligence committed by its doctor, the State Consumer Commission has said while awarding Rs one lakh compensation to the family of a woman who died in a hospital.

"If a patient suffers due to the medical negligence of doctors and staff of the hospital whose services he avails against a consideration, the said institute alone is liable to compensate him," Commission President Justice J D Kapoor said. The Commission said that the doctors have no joint liability towards the patient.

It held that patients pay to hospital for their treatment so it is only their responsibility in case of any fault or negligence of doctors. Patients direct relationship is with the said hospital in which his treatment is going on and not with the treating doctors, the Commission said while directing Capital-based Khosla Medical Institute and Research Society to pay Rs one lakh compensation to the husband of a patient who died due to medical negligence.

The Commission's order came on a complaint filed by Jagdish Kumar Arora whose wife, Chander Kanta, died due to negligent treatment by doctors of he hospital. Arora, a resident of Haryana, claimed a relief of Rs 18 lakh alleging that his wife died due to alleged medical negligence by the doctors of the institute.

Chander Kanta was admitted in the institute on November 27,1997 for treatment. Her condition, which was initially looking stable, deteriorated after she developed a fungal infection.

Source : PTI