Holding a private hospital deficient in services, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has directed it to compensate the patient by paying ₹1 lakh for a misleading advertisement.
Complainant Surya Kant had alleged that the hospital — Brahm Shakti Sanjivani Hospital — had charged ₹2,30,000 for angioplasty despite advertising that the cost of the procedure was ₹1,25,000. Dismissing the hospital’s contention that the cost mentioned was only for those who paid in “cash”, the consumer forum said: “It [advertisement] nowhere stated that this was only for ‘cash payment basis’ or that mediclaim insurance policy holders were excluded or that emergency patients were excluded.”
‘High quality implant’
The hospital said a higher amount was charged as the stent implanted “was of the high quality and it was informed to the wife of the complainant, who gave consent for it.”
The consumer panel said: “The hospital imposed its conditions and additional costs after the complainant, attracted by its advertisement of reasonability of cost, went to the hospital in emergency conditions…The ‘consent’...was in emergency conditions...” Stating that the hospital imposed the condition “arbitrarily”, the apex consumer forum said: “The acts and conduct of the hospital were unfair...” The hospital was directed to pay ₹50,000 to the complainant, the remaining amount has to be deposited to the Consumer Legal Aid Account of the District Forum, the panel said.
