The state clinical establishment regulatory commission on Friday asked Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata, to pay Rs 15 lakh as compensation to the family of a woman who suffered head injury after falling from the hospital bed.
The woman later died in the hospital.
Retired judge Ashim Banerjee, chairperson of the commission, said Apollo offered to pay compensation to the family when the panel was hearing their complaint.
The commission fixed Rs 15 lakh as compensation and the hospital agreed to it.
The complaint was filed by the son of the 78-year-old woman, who had been admitted to the hospital 21 times in the last three or four years.
“The woman was admitted to the hospital on March 23. She fell from the bed around 5am on April 13. She suffered fracture injuries in her femur bone and injuries in her head,” said Banerjee.
The woman passed away on May 23. The post-mortem report said she died of “sepsis and head injury”, said Banerjee.
“That means the reason for which she was undergoing treatment and the head injury resulting from the fall from bed in hospital were responsible for the death,” Banerjee said.
While the hearing was underway, representatives of Apollo offered to pay compensation.
The hospital was also asked to reduce the bill amount by more than Rs 22 lakh. The complainant was asked to pay Rs 7 lakh for the period the woman was under treatment before the fall - from March 23 till April 13. The hospital had billed the family Rs 7,67,969 for the period.
For the rest of the period of her stay, from April 14 till May 23, the bill rose by more than Rs 22 lakh. The hospital was also asked not to charge that amount.
The woman’s son has filed a criminal case against the hospital. During the hearing, the hospital pleaded with him to withdraw the case since he would be paid the compensation. But the man refused to do so.
A spokesperson for Apollo said: “It was an accident…. We respect the judgment of the commission and will comply with the order as advised once we receive it.”