“Supreme Court Rules on Medical Negligence: Patient Awarded Rs. 16 Lakh Compensation for Post-Anaesthesia Hoarseness”
The Supreme Court recently granted Rs. 10 lakhs in compensation to a patient who suffered from hoarseness in his voice due to medical negligence during anesthesia administration. The patient, now deceased, had sought compensation of Rs. 18,00,000 (Rupees Eighteen Lakhs only) for the surgical error at Manipal Hospital, which led to his hoarseness. However, the District Forum independently arrived at a compensation figure of ₹5,00,000 (Rupees Five Lakhs only).
The appellant patient (now deceased) alleged that the Hospital administration breached its duty by assigning a critical task to a trainee anesthetist, resulting in the paralysis of the left vocal cord of the appellant patient due to the incorrect insertion of the Double Lumen Tube during anesthesia administration for surgery. As a consequence, the patient experienced hoarseness in his voice after the operation.
The court ordered that the compensation awarded by the District Forum be increased from ₹5,00,000 (Rupees Five Lakhs only) to ₹10,00,000 (Rupees 10 Lakhs only), with simple interest calculated at a rate of 10% per annum from the date of filing the claim petition until the amount is paid, after adjusting the amounts already disbursed in favor of the appellant patient.
