A shocking example of medical neglect has once again highlighted the crucial need for accountability in medicine. For doctors, this case is a sobering reminder of the dangers involved with surgical operations, and the very real need to protect oneself with Customized professional indemnity policy.
12-Year Ordeal After Hysterectomy A Nightmare Unfolds
In a shocking Pondicherry case, a woman found nuts and bolts in her body, twelve years after she had an abdominal hysterectomy done at a private nursing home. The unimaginable suffering and health problems she endured for more than a decade prompted the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) to order her Rs 13.77 lakh compensation.
How Did This Happen?
The operation, performed in June 1991, had been seemingly routine. But post-operative complications soon became apparent, symptoms such as dizziness, shivering, and chronic pain. Numerous consultations and treatments failed to improve her condition, rendering her reliant on family members for daily tasks.
Years went by before an X-ray detected a strange “butterfly-shaped” foreign object in her abdomen. Yet the severity of the condition was not determined until 2003, when a further thorough check-up affirmed the presence of foreign objects, a bolt and nut. Severe surgery had to be done to have them removed.
The Long Road to Justice
In spite of clear evidence of medical negligence during surgery, the case in the court was not as straightforward. The doctors protested innocence, questioned the timing of complaint, and even pleaded a case of absence of proper documentation. However, the NCDRC confirmed the patient’s case and accepted the patient’s evidence of physical and emotional trauma suffered.
Why Doctors Must Prioritize Indemnity Insurance
To medical professionals, such situations remind them that they must anticipate legal challenges. Even the most competent doctors are subject to claims of negligence, and the cost and damage to reputation can be extreme.
Professional indemnity insurance provides essential protection, including legal expenses, settlements, and damages for claims of negligence. With the times of patient awareness and legal scrutiny upon us, this protection is not only recommended but it is necessary.
CoverYou-Protecting Those Who Care
At CoverYou, we specialize in delivering comprehensive Doctor’s indemnity insurance specifically for all healthcare professionals. Our policies are Customized to protect you from the unexpected, allowing your attention to remain where it should be, on delivering outstanding patient care, without the threat of impending legal fallout.
Medical practice is a tremendous responsibility and the occasional risk of unexpected consequences. Ensure you are covered. Join CoverYou and protect your future today.
