The Managing Director, Kamineni Hospitals v. Peddi Narayana Swami and Another
Background
The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) had held Kamineni Hospitals vicariously liable for medical negligence in the treatment of the complainant's son, a 27-year-old B.Tech graduate who died, and awarded a total of Rs. 20 lakhs in compensation (Rs. 15 lakhs against the hospital and Rs. 5 lakhs against the treating doctor). The hospital appealed, arguing there was no expert medical evidence establishing negligence and that the compensation amount was excessive and unsupported.
Decision Breakdown
The Supreme Court upheld the finding of medical negligence against both the hospital and the doctor, agreeing with the State Commission and NCDRC that the evidence on record supported it. On the amount, the Court noted that Rs. 10 lakhs had already been deposited by the hospital in the Supreme Court's registry (as directed when notice was first issued) and had grown with accrued interest through fixed-deposit renewal; it held that this deposited sum, with interest, was sufficient to satisfy the hospital's share of liability, effectively reducing the hospital's payable amount from Rs. 15 lakhs to the Rs. 10 lakhs (plus interest) already deposited. The doctor's separately assessed Rs. 5 lakhs liability, already paid, was not disturbed.
Lesson Learnt
In medical negligence claims, once negligence is established by expert bodies like consumer commissions, the Supreme Court is generally reluctant to disturb that finding, but it can and does calibrate the final compensation amount based on practical factors such as sums already deposited and accrued interest.