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Kanta v. Tagore Heart Care and Research Centre

Civil Appeal · Neutral citation not assigned (Civil Appeal No. 6284 of 2014)Decided 10 Jul 2014
Civil Appeal No. 6284 of 2014
Justice C.K. Prasad · Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose

Background

Kanta developed an aortic dissection around the time of an angiography procedure and alleged that the doctor had negligently forced the catheter despite her abdominal pain. The hospital maintained that the complication was related to her hypertension and was treated conservatively after being detected the next morning. The State Consumer Commission awarded Rs. 5 lakh, but the National Commission set aside that award.

Decision Breakdown

The Supreme Court dismissed Kanta's appeal and upheld the rejection of her negligence claim. It did not treat successful completion of the angiography as proof that no dissection could have occurred during it. Nevertheless, the record contained no evidence that the doctor used excessive force or undertook an improper step, and pain during the procedure alone did not establish negligence. Her condition became stable with treatment, and the Court found no demonstrated departure from the standard of a reasonably competent practitioner. The existence of a complication was therefore insufficient to restore the compensation award.

Lesson Learnt

A medical complication does not automatically prove negligent treatment. A compensation claim needs evidence connecting the harm to care that fell below the professional standard; the patient's symptoms and treatment records must be assessed together.

Official source (sci.gov.in)View Judgment (PDF)

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