In Brief
A widow sued a private hospital for medical negligence after his 56-year-old wife died from dengue fever complicated by cardiac arrest. The hospital had admitted her to ICU and administered intravenous fluids, but failed to regularly monitor blood parameters (particularly haematocrit and platelet counts) during the day despite her documented platelet decline and abdominal symptoms. The Supreme Court held that failure to conduct blood tests between admission and cardiac arrest breached the standard of care required by WHO and National Vector Borne Disease Control guidelines. The court emphasized that medical professionals must follow established clinical protocols and cannot rely solely on professional opinion that lacks logical basis. The Court allowed the appeal, finding medical negligence established, and awarded Rs. 15 lakhs compensation instead of Rs. 6 lakhs, recognizing the economic value of the deceased homemaker's contributions to the family.
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