Woman gets Rs 13.7 lakh compensation 32 years after clinic leaves nut and bolt in her abdomen: report

In December 2003, the woman underwent another surgery at a hospital to remove the foreign objects from her abdomen. (Representational Image).

A private clinic in Puducherry was directed to pay a woman, who was forced to live with a nut and a bolt in her abdomen for over 32 years following a mismanaged surgery, a compensation of Rs 13.7 lakh, a Times of India report said.

On June 24, 1991, the woman underwent an abdominal hysterectomy at the clinic at the age of 35. Following the operation, she complained to the doctors of complications and was admitted to the same clinic in July.

12 years later, in November 2003, the woman decided to consult another gynaecologist who, after examinations, told her that there were two foreign objects-a nut and a bolt-in her abdomen. Later, in December 2003, the woman

The clinic where the woman had undergone the abdominal hysterectomy in 1991 approached her to do the surgery for free and pay her a compensation of Rs 50,000 but she declined the request and underwent another surgery at a hospital to remove the objects in December 2003. Later, she filed a complaint with the state commission and asked for a compensation of Rs 84 lakh.

In April 2012, the state commission directed the clinic to pay Rs 6 lakh to the woman as cost of medical treatment incurred by her and Rs 7 lakh for unbearable pain, loss of normal life and loss of care of the children.

Additionally, the clinic was also told to pay an extra Rs 72,000 after it was found that the woman had deployed a house help to do the chores for 12 years as she was restricted from performing the activities due to the pain.

The clinic filed an appeal before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Delhi, but the body upheld the commission's order on November 10.