In Brief
A pregnant woman was treated at two hospitals in March 2004 and her prematurely-born child later died. The complainant sued both hospitals for medical negligence. The lower courts dismissed the claim against Safdarjung Hospital, a government hospital, on the ground it provided free treatment. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission reversed this, finding the hospital amenable to consumer law jurisdiction and liable for Rs 2 lakhs compensation. The Supreme Court dismissed the government's appeal but clarified that this judgment applies only to the peculiar facts of this case. The Court left open for future decision whether government hospitals providing free services to some patients are subject to consumer protection laws.
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