Ayurveda doctor told to pay Rs 7L for 2004 death

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has upheld a state commission order that found an ayurvedic doctor guilty of negligence after the allopathic medicine he administered to a man in 2004 led to his death. The commission said the Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission's order directing Dr R R Singh to pay the man's widow, Pratibha Gamre, Rs 7 lakh was just. The National Commission said the doctor should not have admitted Pandurang Gamre as his condition was alarming and should have advised him to approach a good hospital. "It is difficult to fathom as to how and why drugs like Betnesol, Decadron & Neurobion were prescribed without consulting any allopathic doctor. It is difficult to understand how the petitioner (Dr Singh) switched over to allopathy without any knowledge of the same. A doctor is not supposed to play with the lives of people for his personal gain," the commission said. On August 20, 2004, Pandurang, a BMC deputy superintendent, had severe pain in his lower body. Gamre took him to Singh's clinic at Kandivli (E), where he said that Pandurang had a serious illness and could even suffer a paralytic stroke. Gamre paid the doctor Rs 2,700 and said since her husband could avail of free treatment at the BMC hospital, she wanted him discharged. But Singh convinced her against moving him. Gamre alleged that at night, Singh left her husband in the care of his compounder. The compounder gave him medicines prescribed by Singh. He died soon after. Gamre filed a consumer complaint in the forum on June 18, 2007, which was rejected. Gamre filed an appeal in the state commission. Singh contended that though Pandurang had been to this clinic, he neither treated him nor accepted any fees. He said Pandurang died of a heart attack. Source:TNN