Punjab hospital held guilty of unfair trade practice

New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) A Punjab hospital, found using an unqualified compounder for administering a crucial injection to a heart patient, who eventually died, has been held guilty of resorting to unfair trade practices by the country's apex consumer forum. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NRDRC) also ordered the hospital to pay a compensation of Rs 50,000 to the patient's family members for its unfair trade practices. The NCDRC, bench of Justice R C Jain and member S K Naik, however, absolved the hospital of the charges of committing the medical negligence in the treatment of the heart patient. The NCDRC order came on an appeal by Fazilka-based Jassi Hospital and Heart Care Centre, challenging Punjab State Consumer Commission order, holding the hospital guilty of indulging in unfair trade practices but absolving it of graver charges of medical negligence. "In this case, order of state commission has dealt at length the evidence on the engagement of untrained/unqualified staff by the Jassi Hospital and Heart Care Centre and, so we do not find any merit in this revision petition. The revision petition, accordingly, is dismissed," said NCDRC upholding the state commission's order. 

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