A Bengaluru resident, 67-year-old Bhagavandas Alva, has won a consumer dispute case against Apollo Hospitals, Seshadripuram, receiving a Rs 1 lakh compensation for “rude behavior and harassment.” The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Bengaluru Urban, ruled in Alva’s favor after he detailed a distressing hospital stay in 2022. Bengaluru resident Bhagavandas Alva, 67, has won a consumer dispute case against Apollo Hospitals, Seshadripuram. He received
Alva was admitted to Apollo Hospitals for a stomachache in August 2022. He underwent numerous tests, including a CT scan, and was advised to have emergency surgery. Following the initial operation, Alva experienced persistent severe pain and complications. He alleged that despite his deteriorating condition, he was given solid food, exacerbating his problems and leading to a second, necessary surgery.
Further compounding his ordeal, Alva claimed nursing students forcibly removed a syringe, causing swelling and preventing further injections. This resulted in the insertion of a catheter in his neck for medication and nutrition.
After a 14-day stay, Alva was discharged, having received an initial bill of Rs 9.9 lakh, later reduced to Rs 5.9 lakh. He filed a complaint with the consumer forum in June 2023, citing harassment and mistreatment.
Apollo Hospitals denied any medical negligence or deficiency in service, stating that Alva was admitted, evaluated, and treated with his consent. However, the consumer commission found Alva’s testimony regarding the harassment he endured credible, stating that he was “a competent person to talk about the harassment suffered by him due to odd behavior of the hospital staff.”
The commission’s ruling highlights the importance of patient rights and the accountability of healthcare providers in ensuring respectful and appropriate treatment.
