Plea Before Bombay High Court Seeks Rs. 36 Lakhs Compensation For Medical Negligence At COVID-19 Jumbo Centre At BKC

A plea has been filed before the Bombay High Court by a resident of Mumbai seeking compensation of Rs. 36 lakhs alleging medical negligence at the Covid-19 Jumbo Centre which was run by the civic body.

The plea has been filed by a resident of Andheri for improper treatment and medical negligence by medical staff at BKC Jumbo COVID-19 Centre.

In his petition, Deepak Shah claimed that he had undergone a hernia operation in March 2021 and the doctor had inserted a mesh inside his abdomen which required 6-month post-surgery care.

In April 2021, Shah tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to the BKC Jumbo Centre at Bandra. It is claimed that Deepak’s family member had informed the doctors of the COVID-19 Jumbo Centre about post-surgery care, nonetheless, the doctors at the Covid center kept on administering 4-5 injections to Shah near the stomach area daily. The plea read,

“That the petitioner requested and regularly pleaded, with the complained respondents about physical bodily pain and requested the respondent doctors to administer injections elsewhere on the body, other than the abdomen/ stomach region, but the respondent doctors remained adamant stating that they are professionally qualified doctors who know their job, as a result of high handedness on part of the respondents, the body of the Petitioner suffered heavily and still the Petitioner has not completely recovered. The Petitioner has become extremely weak and feeble.”

The plea further stated that Deepak was discharged by the center to absolve their liability. The plea read,

“That in a crude attempt to absolve themselves of all liability, the respondents abruptly discharged the petitioner from the BKC Jumbo facility realizing the wrong the Respondents have done.”

Subsequently, Shah visited the doctor who had performed the hernia surgery for a check-up since he had a stomach ache. He was informed that due to the injections, there was an infection near his stomach area.

Deepak had to undergo two more operations to remove the infection and the mesh due to which he suffered physically mentally and financially. The plea stated,

“The petitioner was admitted and had to undergo two surgeries to remove the infection pus and to remove the mesh. The petitioner incurred substantial additional costs. The petitioner also suffered mentally, physically as well as financially.”

It was also stated in the petition that due to the surgeries and the infections Deepak’s overall health was affected which resulted in his body being weak and shortened his life span.

The plea also prayed for the constitution of the independent medical board and award the petitioner a compensation of Rs. 36 Lakhs.

Case Title: Deepak Shah vs State of Maharashtra & Ors.