BM Birla Heart Research Centre has been asked to reimburse the cost of treatment and travel expenses of a patient who went to a hospital in Chennai to remove parts of an old pacemaker that allegedly remained inside despite a procedure to replace it with a new one.
The replacement procedure was conducted at BM Birla Heart Research Centre, said retired judge Ashim Banerjee, chairperson of the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission, which issued the order for reimbursement.
The patient, a woman from Arambag, developed infection after the procedure to replace the pacemaker.
“She went to the hospital 10 or 12 times.... The doctors did not investigate any lapse in the surgery but they treated her infection. At one point, the doctor told her to see a doctor in Arambag,” said Banerjee.
The woman underwent tests in Arambag that showed parts of the old pacemaker had remained inside.
“When she showed the report to the doctor at BM Birla, he said the report was incorrect,” Banerjee said.
The hospital conducted an X-ray and told the patient there was nothing inside, he said.
The patient then decided to visit a hospital in Chennai where the parts of the old pacemaker were removed.
“She is doing fine,” Banerjee said.
When the matter came up for hearing on Monday, the commission asked BM Birla hospital to reimburse the cost of treatment incurred at the Chennai hospital and the travel expenses of the woman.
“Even after the parts were removed in Chennai, BM Birla hospital refused to accept there was any error on their part,” Banerjee said.
BM Birla hospital, he said, has asked for the medical records issued by the Chennai hospital.
“We have said the patient will show all records from Chennai. The hospital will have to reimburse the patient the actual cost of treatment and the travel expenses,” Banerjee said.
An official of BM Birla hospital said they would comment only after going through the commission’s order.