PBT president, Dr. Kunal Saha, appeared before division bench of Justice Iswar Chandra Das and Tarapada Gangopadyay in West Bengal Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and argued on behalf of Mr. Prabir Dey, a poor daily laborer whose 20-year old wife Archana Dey died last year at the R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, a top super-specialty hospital in Kolkata, only days after she delivered their first child through an otherwise uneventful delivery what the death certificate issued by the hospital claims as death due to “acute renal failure”. The state hospital has not provided any any explanation as to how a healthy 20-year old woman could suddenly die from “acute renal failure” and even more shockingly, the hospital has refused to provide any medical record to the victim’s family in clear violation of law (Section 1.3.2 of MCI Code of Ethics & Regulations, 2002). Dr. Saha argued that a young and healthy woman dying following delivery with “acute renal failure” should be ex facie deemed as a case of medical negligence. A compensation of Rs. 95 lakh has been claimed for the loss of a mother on behalf of the unfortunate husband and newborn baby-girl. Commission has admitted the case and issued notice to the hospital as the matter would come for final hearing on February 10, 2018.
