Alleges that his father suffered irreversible brain damage due to negligence of doctors

Teacher takes hospital to court

Alleges that his father suffered irreversible brain damage due to negligence of doctors

A Satara schoolteacher has filed a petition in the Consumer Court alleging that his father suffered irreversible brain damage due to medical negligence of doctors at Deenanath Mangeshkar hospital.

According to the petitioner, Dnyaneshwar Shinde, his father a retired headmaster of a primary school was admitted on May 1, 2009 for a bypass surgery.

According to Shinde, two days after the surgery his father's condition deteriorated and he had to be shifted to ICU.

"The entire time junior doctors were looking after him and despite requests they didn't call the seniors. By the time seniors arrived water had filled in my father's lungs and he suffered irreversible damage. Since then he is in a vegetative state," alleged Shinde.

He added that hospital authorities 'sacked' the junior doctor Apurva Gore two days later, but are now denying any such thing.

"For six months they didn't allow me to file a case. The medical director said they have sacked the junior doctor and I should keep quiet or else they would pump wrong injections into my father," he alleged.

Pressure tactics
Shinde, who is now managing his father at home, is unable to afford the treatment. His bill has already escalated to Rs 9 lakh.

He also alleged that the hospital authorities fooled him into leaving the hospital and are now refusing to give medical records.

"They told us they are sending us to another hospital and the ambulance dropped us home."

Shinde also alleged that hospital authorities put pressure on Kothrud police station officers who refused to lodge his complaint.

False allegations
Medical Director Dhananjay Kelkar said that Shinde wants to exact revenge with the hospital.

"All his allegations are baseless. We didn't sack any doctor; she left in a few days owing to his harassment. And when the doctor left, there was no point in carrying out an enquiry," said Kelkar.

While Shinde has alleged that Kelkar had threatened him, the latter denied the charges.

"I don't need to do such things, we are respectable people. As far as medical records go, he hasn't paid his bills. Even during the discharge he was aware, as he has paid the ambulance."