The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has fined obstetrician Dr. Parimala Desai ₹2,50,000 for issuing an incorrect report without properly scanning a pregnant woman. Additionally, compensation with interest has been ordered for the victims.
Sumangala, from Ballachinte village in Bellary taluk, underwent a scan on December 10, 2022, at Dr. Parimala Desai’s clinic on Sanganakallu Road. The doctor reported no issues with the fetus.
However, when Sumangala gave birth to a baby girl on February 30, 2023, at the Community Health Center in Moka, the child was found to have a myelomeningocele (tumor) on her lower back. Proper scanning at the 22nd and 32nd weeks could have detected this condition, potentially allowing for in-utero treatment.
The child now faces difficulties due to one leg being significantly larger than the other, impacting her ability to stand and sit. Sumangala sought ₹5,00,000 in compensation for medical treatment from the district commission.
The commission ruled that Dr. Parimala Desai must pay ₹2,50,000 to Sumangala for negligence in conducting the scan improperly.
