Bombay High Court
Ms.Anita Nagindas Parekh & Ors vs Dr.Anil C. Pinto .. .. .. Defenda Nt S on 10 November, 2008
Equivalent citations: AIR 2009 (NOC) 1691 (BOM.), 2009 (2) AIR BOM R 510 2009 A I H C 2307, 2009 A I H C 2307, 2009 A I H C 2307 2009 (2) AIR BOM R 510, 2009 (2) AIR BOM R 510
Author: Roshan Dalvi
Bench: Roshan Dalvi
1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
O. O. C. J.
Suit No.510 of 1985
Ms.Anita Nagindas Parekh & ors. .. .. Plaintiffs
v/s.
Dr.Anil C. Pinto .. .. .. Defenda nt s
Mr.K.K. Shah for Plaintiffs.
Mr.R.A. Shaikh for Defenda nt s
-----
CORAM : SMT.ROSHAN DALVI, J.
Dated : 10 th November, 200 8
JUDGMENT :
1. The original Plaintiff No.1 and Plaintiff No.2 were the heirs of one Prakas h Nagindas Parekh, who expired on 20 th Februa ry 1984 in KEM Hospital, Mumbai. Plaintiff No.1 expired pending the Suit. Plaintiffs 1(a) to 1(b) are the heirs and legal represent a tives of the original Plaintiff No.1 along with Plaintiff No.2. The Plaintiffs claim damages from the Defenda nt upon the tort of negligence.
2. The Defenda nt is a qualified practising Surgeon. The aforesaid Prakas h Nagindas Parekh (the deceased) suffered from a condition called hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).
He was under the treatme nt of the Defendan t who had performed a surgery medically called upper Dorsal or Cervical Sympathectomy which is a surgery to be performed on the hand s (upper limbs) to alleviate the said medical ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:50 ::: 2 condition. Sympat hectony is a surgical excision of a part of the nervous system which causes hyperhidrosis. It is the Plaintiffs' case that the Defenda nt was negligent during course of the surgery as well as the pre and post operative care. The Plaintiffs have claimed damages upon such negligence.
3. The Defenda nt has denied negligence. He refutes the claim for damages.
4. Based upon the respective cases of the parties, Justice A.S. Oka framed the following issues on 9.7.2007 which are answered as follows:-
(i)Whether the Plaintiffs prove that the Defenda nt was negligent while performing a surgery upon Mr.Praka s Nagindas Parekh. - No.
(ii)Whether the Plaintiffs prove that the Defenda nt was negligent and has not taken a proper pre and post operative care. - Yes - to the extent stated in the reasons.
(iii)Whether the Defendan t is liable to pay damages to the Plaintiffs. - Yes.::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:50 ::: 3
(iv)If answer to the earlier issues is in the affirmative, what is the amoun t of damages to which the Plaintiffs are entitled to? - As per final order.
(v)What order and decree ? - As per final order.
5. In this Suit, the Plaintiffs have examined Dr.Bhagavant Rajaram Kalke as P.W.1 to prove negligence. He has been cross- examined by the Defenda nt. The Plaintiffs have also examined Plaintiff No.1(a) on behalf of the Plaintiffs to prove the damages suffered by them as P.W.2 . The Defenda nt has examined himself to prove the lack of negligence and to refute the claim of damages. He has been cross- examined.
6. The Plaintiffs have sought to rely upon the Defenda nt's stateme nt made under Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code in the criminal trial that arose upon the same incident. The Plaintiffs have relied upon the case papers right from the notes of the Consulting Physician of the deceased who referred the deceased to the Defendant, including the case papers of the Defenda nt's Clinic, the notes made by the Defenda nt as well as the case papers of KEM Hospital where the deceased was shifted by the Defenda nt after the surgery was performed upon the deceased. The aforesaid document s have also been relied ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:50 ::: 4 upon in the criminal case. Certified copies of these docume nt s have been obtained from the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Mumbai and got produced in this Suit. Both the parties have relied upon and sought to interpret this docume nt a ry evidence. Of course, the parties have also got produced the complaint filed in the Metropolitan Magistrate's Court at Dadar and the judgment in the aforesaid case passed by the Metropolitan Magistrate's Court at Mazagaon, with which the issues in this Suit are not concerned. The Plaintiffs have further produced income tax return s of the deceased filed by the deceased prior to his death as well as the retur n s filed by the original Plaintiff No.1 and Plaintiff No.2 after the death of the deceased for the last financial year of his life.
7. The two main aspects of the case to be considered in this Suit based upon the aforesaid oral and docume nt a ry evidence are : (1) The factum of negligence, if any, before, during and after the surgery upon the deceased on the part of the Defenda nt and (2) if negligence is proved, the extent of damages to be granted to the Plaintiffs.
8. Issue Nos.(i) and (ii) Re : Negligen c e :
The deceased was admittedly a patient of and accordingly treated by the Defenda nt. He has not lived to tell his tale of ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:50 ::: 5 what transpired between him and the Defenda nt. The Plaintiffs would have no personal knowledge of what transpired between the deceased and the Defenda nt with regard to the surgery and its aftermat h; the Plaintiffs could have only make out their case from the case papers and upon considering the case of the Defenda nt in the earlier criminal proceedings. It has been the Plaintiffs' case that the surgery itself was avoidable. It is also their case that a gross error due to negligence of the Defenda nt came to be made during the surgery when, in common language, a wrong vein of the deceased was cut which proved fatal. It is further their case that even after the initial mistake by negligence, the Defenda nt was further negligent in delaying the post operative care which could have saved the deceased. The evidence of the Defendant, both examination- in- chief as well as cross- examination is relied upon by the Plaintiffs to show what transpired as per the say of the Defendan t himself. In the scenario which the Plaintiffs have put the essential truth of the case can be best ascertained from the Defenda nt's own evidence. It would be just and equitable to both the parties to essentially consider the Defendan t's own evidence and the admissions therein to recreate the ailment of the deceased, the treatme nt sought to be given, the care, if any, taken by the Defenda nt as his Surgeon, the surgery which was performed, the complications that arose out of the surgery, ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:50 ::: 6 the post operative care given to the deceased initially in the Defenda nt's Clinic and later upon his transfer by the Defenda nt in KEM Hospital resulting in his ultimate demise.
9. For this purpose, it would be apt to enumera te the admissions made by the Defendan t as follows:-
(a) The Defendant passed his M.S. In 1975 (Para- 1, examination- in- chief). He was attached to KEM Hospital between 1975 and 1980 (Para- 4 of examination- in- chief). He started his private practice in 1980- 81 (Ans.3). [The ans w er s are given in the Defenda nt's cross- examination ]. The Defenda nt is a General Surgeon with specialty in vascular surgery (Ans.5 ).
(b) The Defenda nt's Clinic had no ICU facility, blood matching facility or blood bank. He had 10 beds in the Clinic. (Ans.10 to 13).
-(c) The deceased was referred to the Defenda nt by his Consulting Physician one Dr.Anand K. Joshi under the Note dated 8.2.1984. The note shows complaint of sweating of both palms and soles. It calls upon the Defendant to "do the needful" and also mentions "For Sympat hectomy" (Exhibit P-3).
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:50 ::: 7(d) The deceased met the Defenda nt on 8.2.1984. The deceased was called the following day (9.2.1984) at 5 p.m. for an investigative procedure medically called Cervical Sympat hectomy Block to be given by Dr.Raghvan. [This is mentioned in the Note of the Defendant dated 8.2.1984 on his letterhead (Exhibit D-4).
(e) This test showed that the surgery would be successful [Para- 3, examination- in- chief (Exh. P-3)].
(f) Certain blood tests were conducted / c a r ried out. The reports were norm al (Ans.51).
(g) The urine test was done in the Defendant's Clinic.
The report was normal (Ans.53).
(h) The deceased's haemoglobin was checked.
(i) The deceased was in normal health]. [Para 50, examination- in- chief].
(j) The deceased was administered certain drugs on 16.2.1984 and called at 7.30 A.M. on Friday, ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:50 ::: 8 17.2.1984 on an empty stomach for operation. [This is a part of the Note of the Defendant on his letterhea d (Exhibit D-5)].
(k) Surgery was sched uled for 17.2.1984 at 7.30 a.m. (Ex.P- 4).
(l) The deceased was directed to keep his parent s present at the time of the surgery (Para- 4, examination- in- chief).
(m) On 17.2.1984, the parents of the deceased had not accompa nied the deceased. The deceased was directed to call his parent s. The surgery was postponed from 7.30 a.m. to 9 a.m. The deceased made a telephone call. The deceased stated to the Defendant that his parents were on the way (Para- 4, examination- in- chief).
(n) The address of the deceased was written down by the Defendant in the case papers. The telephone num ber of neither the deceased nor his parent s was taken down (Ans.68).
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:50 ::: 9(o) The Defenda nt obtained the telephone num ber from the bag of the deceased after complications developed in order to call his parent s (Ans.67).
(p) The surgery started at 9 a.m. At first anest hesia was given. After 3 to 4 minutes the actual surgery started (Ans.36- 38).
(q) The skin was cut. The muscles were separated. The subclavian artery was retracted downward and the sympat hetic chain was cut. There was no bleeding. (Para- 4 of examination- in- chief). (The subclavian artery is a blood vessel which passes through the neck into the corresponding upper limb or upper extremity.)
(r) Normally such operations would take 30 / 4 5 minutes.
(Ans.59).
(s) Within 1 hour of the surgery the subclavian artery went into severe spas m and no pulsation was felt in the left radial artery [Para- 4, examination- in- chief]. (A spasm is an involunt ary musc ular contraction).
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:50 ::: 10-(t) Warm spung on the artery was given. Xylocain was administered (Para- 5, examination- in- chief).
(u) A blood clot (Embolus) was suspected). Hence, Embolectomy (forgartisation) was done. (This is a procedure for removal of the blood clot causing an obstruction or blockage in the blood circulation in the blood vessel). This requires insertion of a Catheter with balloon. Clots were removed. The deceased started pulsation.
ig The spas m reappeared after 40
minutes. Embolectomy was again done. The same
result was seen. [Para- 5 of examination- in- chief].
(v) The Assistant Doctor of the Defenda n t one Dr.Antao was sent to KEM Hospital. Cardio Vascular Surgeon, one Dr.Khandepa rk a r was called to the Defenda n t's Clinic at Dadar [Para- 6 of examination- in- chief]. [Dr.Khandepar k a r was not contacted on the telephone].
(w) KEM Hospital is 2/ 3 KM. away from the Defenda nt's Clinic. It would take 15 minutes to reach there.
[Ans.120 & 121].
(x) Dr.Khandepa r k a r came at 1 p.m. [Part of the stateme nt of the Defenda nt recorded in the criminal trial ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:50 ::: 11 under Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code].
(y) Dr.Khandepa r k a r was contacted in the afternoon and came in the afternoon. The Defenda nt did not remember the exact time. [Ans. 91 & 93].
(z) Dr.Khandepa r k a r also performed Embolectomy once (Ans. 104).
(aa) Hence, Embolectomy
ig was performed thrice, - twice
by the Defendant and once by Dr.Khan depa r k a r .
(bb) Embolectomy would take 30 / 4 5 minutes [Ans.107].
(cc) Embolization is the reverse action of Embolectomy.
Embolization is done therape u tically.
(Dr.Khandepa r k a r also performed Embolization. [Ans. 101, 102, 103 with 141]. (This consists in blocking the artery / blood vessel supplying the organ to stop blood flow.) (dd) Dr.Khadepar ka r retur ned after 4 hours and advised the deceased to be shifted to KEM Hospital for by- pass grafting. [Ans 112 with 127 & 128].
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:50 ::: 12(ee) The entire surgery continued from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. [Ans. 58].
(ff) The deceased was kept under anest he sia from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. [Ans.65].
(gg) Usually the patient would regain conscious ne s s after about an hour after the operation. When the surgery is prolonged, it would take longer time to regain conscious ne s s. [Ans. 64].
(hh) The surgery ended at 6 p.m. [Ans. 108].
(ii) The deceased was retur ned to Room No.7 in the
Defendant's Clinic [Para- 6, examination- in- chief].
(jj) The parents of the deceased had still not arrived.
[Para- 56 of examination- in- chief].
(kk) Colour change was noticed in the limb of the deceased after the surgery. [Ans. 108]. That is called Ischemic Contract u re IC.
(ll) IC occurs when muscles become dark and de-
oxygenated due to deficit blood supply to them. [Ans.
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 13122].
(mm) Two of the many causes of IC are Embolus (clot) and injury [Ans. 123].
(nn) Chances of success in treating the patient would diminish after 6 hours of IC [Ans. 157].
(oo) Dr.Khandepa r k a r did end to end anastomosis [Ans. 94].
(pp) Anastomosis is sut uring of one end of the artery to the other end of the divided artery surgically [Ans. 96]. After Dr.Khandep a rk a r advised by- pass grafting and before the deceased was shifted / t r a n sferred to KEM Hospital, the deceased was administered blood transfu sion (Ans. 130). The sister of the deceased brought a bottle of blood from Dr.Ghar p u r e's blood bank within 2 hours on being told to obtain it [Para- 9 of examination- in- chief].
(qq) The deceased was removed to KEM Hospital after 9.30 p.m. [Ans. 115 & 119].
(rr) [Time of admission of the deceased in KEM Hospital ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 14 papers is 11 p.m. (Part of Exh. P-5)].
(ss) The Defenda nt followed the deceased to KEM Hospital. [Ans. 62]. The sister of the deceased was with the deceased since prior to his transfer to KEM Hospital.
(tt) Injury to subclavian artery is not usu al in sympat hectomy operation [Ans. 69].
(uu) The Defenda nt had performed over 50 sympat hetomies; - 5 were in his Clinic [Ans. 7 & 9].
(vv) The Defendant had no records of any sympat hetomies done in his Clinic because he did not keep records for over 3 years. [Ans. 47].
(ww) The Defendant did not know and did not take down the blood group of the deceased in the admission card or elsewhere. [Ans. 152]. (Detection of the blood group takes about 1 minute; it is always done when blood is sold for transfu sion)
10. The evidence of the Defenda nt himself showing the aforesaid admissions narrows down the controversy between ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 15 the parties.
11. Though the Defendan t has himself called for Dr.Khandepa rk a r and deposed about the procedure adopted by Dr.Khandep ar k a r and acted on his advice to show that he had done whatever was possible in the circum st a nces as not to be negligent in tort, the Defendant has not examined Dr.Khandepa rk a r. Even if the deposition of the Defendant with regard to the Embolectomy and Anastomosis performed by Dr.Khandepa rk a r and advice for by- pass grafting given by Dr.Khandepa rk a r is accepted, Dr.Khandepa r k a r would have been the only other qualified and independe nt witness to have deposed about the real medical condition of the deceased hitherto left unk nown.
12. It is clear that the deceased developed embolus resulting in a spas m. Normally this would disappear upon administr ation of a warm spunge soaked in local anesthe sia drug or vesodialacter drug. By administra tion of simple procedures the spas m did not disappear. Hence the Defenda nt suspected further complications and embarked upon further treatme nt. Whether or not this would constitute an accident al bonafide error of which the Defendan t cannot be held liable in tort or whether it would constitute a tort of negligence would have to be adjudicated upon appreciation of the evidence of ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 16 Dr.Kalke, P.W.1 , who has been examined as an expert witness by the Plaintiffs.
13. His evidence shall be considered showing the references in the criminal case (cc) in which also he was examined and his Affidavit of examination- in- chief and the cross- examination filed in this Suit.
14. Dr.Bhagavan t Rajaram Kalke is a Cardio Vascular and Thoracic Surgeon (CVTS) [P-80- CC]. He has experience in portal hyperten sion surgery [P-45- CC].
15. He has deposed that there are two treat me n t s for Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).
(i) Medical : By administr ation of drugs.
(ii) Surgical : It should be resorted to only if the medical treatme nt fails.
He has deposed that the medical treatme n t has been in vogue for the last 15 years before his evidence. [His evidence has been given during July 1990 / November 1991 in the criminal case against the Defenda nt herein]. Since then it has become the preferred mode of treat ment custom arily ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 17 tried out first [P-50- CC]. The surgical treatmen t consists of upper dorsal Sympat hectomy or Cervical Sympat hectomy. His evidence shows that the General Practitioner (GP) has to decide the aforesaid modes of treatme nt [P-48- CC]. However, he claims that when a patient is referred to the surgeon, he would have to examine, observe and decide the course of action himself [P-58- CC]. For this purpose he has relied upon a book on Medical Ethics "Doctor and Patient and the Law" by R. Crawford Morris & Alan R. Moritz, 1971 V Edition page 338. [P85- 86 CC].
16. He has deposed about the test performed by the Defenda nt called Sympat hetic Block test also called Para Vertibral Block. It is his evidence that that is the correct specific test to see whether the patient will benefit from the surgical treatme nt. His evidence in this Suit shows that it is customary to carry out the said test to see whether it would benefit the patient [Para 5, examination- in- chief]. Of course, the patient's general condition would have to be assessed and which was done.
17. He has also deposed about the consent of the patient required to be taken. The patient was an adult. His consent was taken as reflected in Exhibit P-2 in evidence, showing that the risks and consequences have been explained to the ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 18 patient.
18. Hence the evidence of P.W.1, as an expert witness given in the Criminal Court as well as in this Court shows that the said surgery is common and can be carried out for the condition which the patient suffered from. Upon such evidence, the opinion of the doctor with regard to the actual surgery must be first considered. At page 33 of the evidence initially led before the learned Metropolitan Magistrate, P.W.1 has opined as follows:-
" In my opinion, the operation that was carried out wa s adequate and properly carried out. I would like to mention that injury to artery can occur in any surgeon's hand s. Because, we have to move the artery in upward direction or sometime in a down w ar d direction."
That portion of the evidence is conspicuou sly absent as having been actually removed from the examination- in- chief of P.W.1 in this Suit. Though the entire initial evidence in the examination- in- chief is verbatim the same as in the criminal trial [as it is expected to be] this portion of the evidence which would have otherwise found its place between paragrap h s 7 and 8 of the examination- in- chief is omitted. Nevertheless, an ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 19 admission once made by the witness in the criminal proceedings with regard to the same subject matter has to be considered as an admission of the initial successful surgery.
19. It may be mentioned that a direct question to that end was put by Court to P.W.1 as the expert witness during the criminal trial [P89- 90 CC]. It is worth reproducing the Court question as well as the witness's answer:-
"COURT QUESTION :
Q. Is there any rash and negligent act, in the operation which was performed by the accused doctor on the victim, caused death of the victim person, in the case ?
Ans. In my opinion,there does not appear to be any rash ne s s in performing the operation. However, there had been an inordinate delay in treating the complication that developed as a part of the surgery which resulted ultimately in the death of the patient."
20. This material admission further narrows down the controversy between the parties. The Court is, therefore, not required to consider whether or not the surgery should have ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 20 been initiated in the first place and whether or not the surgery itself was improperly or negligently carried out. It is only with regard to post surgery complications that the Defenda nt's acts, omissions and conduct would be required to be adjudicated in this Suit. The deceased developed complications soon after the surgery. The surgery was expected to last about 30 to 40 minutes. The deceased was anest he sised. The anest hesia contin ued from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Yet the deceased was drowsy at the time of admission to KEM Hospital. This is reflected in the KEM Hospital's case papers, due to which his history could not be recorded properly. P.W.1, as the expert witness, has given the time schedule of the surgery and the expected required time during which the post surgery procedures should have been carried out to explain the delay in giving the treatme nt by transferring the deceased to the KEM Hospital which had the relevant infrastr uc t u r e which the Defendant's Clinic lacked. The KEM Hospital's papers show the patient having been transferred and brought for admission in KEM Hospital at 11 p.m. That time of admission has, therefore, to be accepted though it has been the Defenda n t's case that he had been transferred at 9.30 p.m. In Para- 11 of the examination- in- chief of P.W.1 he has deposed that it is very importa nt to note that the very few hours make all the difference between probable safety and destr uction.
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 2121. In the criminal trial, Dr.Kalke has testified about the delay essentially based upon the evidence of urine which was removed from the urinary bladder of the deceased at the end of the first procedure at KEM Hospital on the night between 17 th and 18 th Februa ry198 4. The KEM Hospital papers show that 1000 CC of dark colour urine collected in the bladder was removed at cathet h a ris a tion. The KEM Hospital's doctors suspected myoglobinuria. The witness has deposed that the process of urine collection in the bladder would have started much earlier shown by the collection of 1000 CC of urine which would take "quite sometime to collect in the urinary bladder." The witness has deposed, and the Defenda nt has not been able to show otherwise, that there was no removal of urine from the bladder in the Defenda nt's Clinic since the time of the operation. [Para- 11, examination- in- chief and P93 CC]. The witness has further deposed that the bladder would be distended by collection of 1000 CC of urine and hence such collection is never permitted. The witness has further deposed that normal urine outpu t is 1500 CC per day. This evidence intrinsically shows that since the time of surgery no collection of urine of the patient has been shown. Even the normal urine output of the patient is not shown to be recorded.
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 2222. The KEM hospital's papers show 500 CC of dirty brown coloured urine with granular sediment being recorded. Thereafter the doctor had advised urine outpu t to be recorded every 2 hours [P99- CC]. The witness has deposed that the normal capacity of the urinary bladder is 9 to 24 ounces = 250 to 700 C.C. [P96- CC]. Hence, the witness has testified that the bladder was allowed to distend beyond its capacity which is itself responsible partly for the back press u re effect on the kidneys [P96- CC].
23. The witness has testified that the suspicion of KEM Hospital's doctors that there would be problem of myoglobinuria. [P98- CC]. There was myohaemoglobine in the urine which is stated to be an incriminating factor. [P96- CC]. Myohaemoglobin is a haemoglobin present in the muscle, of a much lower molecular weight than the haemoglobin present in the blood. Due to muscle break- down such haemoglobin, gets detached from the muscle and enters the blood stream causing toxic effects. If then appears in the urine, resulting in "crush syndrome", characterised by renal failure, which was stated to be the cause of the death of the deceased. Crus h syndrome is explained as:-
"A serious medical condition characterized by major shock and renal failure following a crushing injury to ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 23 skeletal muscle. As a result of mas sive crushing of muscles, shock associated with pronounced fall in blood volume occurs mainly due to leakage of blood into adjacent muscle. Myoglobin enters the circulation and acute renal tubular necrosis is likely to result."
24. Whatever be the other procedure s adopted by the Defenda nt upon the deceased for the complications that ensued [upon the deceased], the collection of such quantity of urine as deposed by the expert witness itself shows that aspect of emptying the bladder by catetharis ation had not been resorted to at all. The deceased died of renal failure followed by a cardiac arrest. He is stated to have suffered damage to his kidney in the form of crush syndrome. The extent of urine which distends the bladder is itself stated to be the cause of press u re on the kidney.
25. It may be at once be mentioned that production of urine is a normal body function. The observation of lack of production of urine is, therefore, elementary for a practising surgeon. When a patient has remained in the operation theatre from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., it is imperative that the surgeon considers his urine outp ut. It need hardly be said that the lack of urine outp ut is a cause of renal failure.
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 24There is no evidence that the patient had urinated normally.
There is also no evidence of collection of urine in a cathetar. Despite the evidence given in the Criminal Court with regard to the fact of the collection of so much urine in the KEM Hospital, the Defenda n t has not explained this aspect of the medical problem at all. Even if the procedure adopted by the Defenda nt upon seeing the complications in the nat ure of spas m of the artery is correct and has proved successful, failure to take heed or care of this otherwise apparen t and obvious body function which has proved to be fatal shows negligence which cannot be easily ignored or forgiven.
26. The evidence of P.W.1 mainly is that after the surgery the deceased was not removed with the required speed and expedition to KEM Hospital which had all the infrastr uct u r al facilities. The witness has given the time sched ule to show the delay caused in answer No.48 in his cross- examination. It is his deposition that the operation started at 9 a.m. and the patient reached KEM Hospital at 11 p.m., 14 hours after the commenceme n t of the operation. His deposition shows that when the artery spasm could not be taken care of by the Defenda nt he should have immediately referred the patient to the hospital after his efforts failed. According to him, the patient should have been shifted within an hour of the problem being faced which could have taken place between ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 25 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. As per the stateme nt of the Defenda nt himself in the Criminal Court recorded under Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code, Dr.Khandep a r k a r arrived at 1 p.m. According to P.W.1, the patient should have been shifted between 2 and 3 p.m. if the anasto mosis of the artery failed to establish circulation.
27. It would be appropriate to re- calculate the time schedule of the surgical treatmen t as per the evidence of the Defenda nt himself. An approximate allocation of time for what was done by the Defendan t and what he omitted or failed to do so must be understood. Anesthesia was administered at 9 a.m. Within 3 to 4 minutes the surgery began. This procedure would have taken 30 to 40 minutes.
It would have been completed by about 9.45 a.m. Within about 40 minutes the deceased developed spasm at about 10.30 a.m. Conservative mild therapy of giving warm spu nge etc. did not cause recession in the spas m s. A blood clot was noticed. Embolectomy was performed. This would have taken till about 11.15 a.m. After sometime spas m reappeared. Hence another Embolectomy was performed.
This could have continued till past Noon. Dr.Khandepa r k a r was sent for and arrived at 1 p.m. He also performed Embolectomy. He further carried out anastomosis. This procedure would have been completed at- least by 2 p.m. ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 26 Dr.Khandepa rk a r left the Defenda nt's clinic to return after 4 hours. During that time nothing whatever was done. Even urine output is not noticed or recorded. Urine has not been externally extracted.
28. The deceased was in the operation theatre till 6 p.m., after which the Defenda nt was shocked to find the absence of the parents of the deceased. He had to find out the telephone number from the bag of the deceased. After he contacted the family members (which comprised of the sister of the deceased), the sister would have come to his Clinic.
She had then to obtain the blood bottle. She obtained it within 2 hours. It is not shown why except perhaps on account of an inordinate loss of blood, that blood transfusion was given. Thereafter blood transfusion could be given.
From about 2 p.m. till 11 p.m. there is a complete void in the care taken for the emergency that took place. From the Defenda nt's own evidence this void is not filled. It is only when Dr.Khandep ar k a r returned in the evening, which would be at about 6 p.m., that he opined that nothing further could be done in the Defenda nt's Clinic for lack of infrastr uct u re and that a by- pass graft was to be performed which could be performed only at KEM Hospital. Hence after such unforgivably fatal delay the deceased was removed to the KEM Hospital for further treat ment only at 11 p.m. Non ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 27 removal of the deceased earlier has resulted in an egregious loss of precious time.
29. Whatever treatment that was given in KEM Hospital could have been given earlier. [P92- CC]. A graft was given to the deceased in the KEM Hospital. A second graft would be undert a ke n upon failure of the first graft. [P94- CC]. It appears that in this case the first graft showed warmnes s of the arm. That being reflected in the KEM Hospital's notes is the aspect relied upon by the Defenda nt himself in his cross-
examination of P.W.1 in the criminal trial. Thereafter the notes show that the limb was less warm and no pulsation was felt. Further there was a bluish dis- colouration of the finger tips. The expert witness' opinion shows that that would suggest that the restoration of blood supply was grossly inadequa t e. This would be the result if the initial grafting is delayed. His further opinion shows that revascularisation may not be possible becau se changes may occur in the distal arterial track in the form of extensive blood clots. Hence the witness has opined that, therefore, no time should be wasted in operating such patients when it becomes clear that repeated forgartisation (embolisation) does not help. [94- CC]. [Revascularisation is the same as reforgartisation - 92- CC]. But forgartisation is essentially for grafting. Page- 13 of the KEM Hospital notes in Exhibit C-4 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 28 shows that forgartisation was contin ued till all the clots were removed and good back bleeding ensued. The witness has explained that it is necessary before any grafting procedure is done to remove clots from the distal artery if the graft has to function. He has explained that if the distal artery is blocked by clots, grafting would not be successful as such artery cannot bring blood to the limb through it if it is blocked by clots. [P96- CC].
30. The aspect of the procedure of Embolectomy ig and its repeated use without grafting and for grafting is, therefore, clearly explained by the expert witness. Embolectomy simpliciter was performed by the Defenda nt twice and by Dr.Khandepa rk a r again in his Clinic. That was without grafting. It resulted in no success. Repeated Embolectomy is not desirable. However, grafting became imperative. For grafting the artery is required to be clear without clots. If the clots were forming, the clots had to be removed. That removal is by the same process of Embolectomy (forgartisation). It had to be, therefore, done at least once before grafting could be carried out in KEM Hospital.
Grafting artery and sut uri ng it without removal on blood clots would not result in successful blood circulation. The fact that the KEM Hospital's case papers show warmnes s of the arm the fact relied upon by the Defenda nt himself, shows ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 29 the success of the graft which was short lived. The expert evidence if the same process could have been done earlier it would have made the whole difference, stands to reason.
31. The expert witness' opinion is that there are better chances of restoration of blood supply and lesser chances of lethal complications if early action for restoration of blood supply is taken. [P95- CC].
32. It is commonig knowledge that the blood clots ultimately result in cardiac arrest. The condition can only deteriorate with time. This scientific aspect must be present to the mind of the Surgeon undert a king this procedure upon the first signs of Embolus.
33. The Defenda nt has shown extensive qualifications which cannot be disputed. He has also relied upon various certificates. Upon acceptance of such qualifications, the knowledge of the complications must be imputed upon the Defenda nt. Furt her knowledge of the conseque nces of not taking proper and expeditious action either in his Clinic or elsewhere must also be imputed upon the Defendant.
34. The clinical notes of the Defenda nt, Exhibit D-6, are admittedly written in the Defenda nt's handwriting. The ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 30 notes show that at 9.30 a.m., the deceased developed Walkman's Ischemic Contract u re. Dr.Kalke has deposed that such contract u re takes 4/ 6 weeks to develop and hence it could have been only Walkma n's Ischemia. This shows that muscles and the tissues of the limb were in jeopardy. The acute renal anuria results in Ischemia of renal tubular epithelium (Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery A.J. Harding Rains and H. David Ritehie, 17 th Edition page 1139 [P88- CC]. One of the causes of Ischemia is the crus syndrome. It is explained by the witness that muscles become blue becau se of lack of blood supply. It results in death of tissues. The death of muscles, if deprived of blood supply, occurs in 6 hours' time. [Para- 9, examination- in- chief]. Hence, according to the expert witness the outer limit for immediate steps would be 6 hours' time. Crush syndrome can occur between 6 to 24 hours. [P94- CC]. The witness has explained : "When circulation of narcotic muscles is re- established after several hours of Ischemia, product of muscles break down such as myoha moglobin enter general circulation and cause toxic effects." This is explained as the crus h syndrome in Watson Jones Fractures and Joint Injuries Vol.I, 1982 6 th Edition page 216. [P73- CC]. This complication is a constan t hazard in surgery [Surgical Management of Vascular disease by Crawford Jamieson, 1982 page 315- 316]. [P73- CC]. The expert opinion further is ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 31 that renal function is commonly impaired by defused vascular disease. The cause of this impairmen t is the "Crush Syndrome" when severely Ischemic muscles mass is revescularised. [73- 74 CC].
35. It is in this regard that cross- examination of the Defenda nt with reference to the effects of Ischemic Contract ure (I.C.) is required to be appreciated. The Defenda nt had noticed colour change after the operation. That would be at about 6 p.m. after the deceased was shifted to his room. This would show de- oxygenation of the muscles due to lack of blood supply thereto. The Defenda nt as a Surgeon knew the consequences of not giving the proper treatme nt to the onset of I.C. His knowledge that 6 hours would diminish the chances of success shows his negligence due to complete inaction and omission to perform his duty as a Surgeon to treat I.C. expediently. It has not been the Defenda nt's evidence that I.C. was treated or could be treated by blood transfusion alone. Hence, the Defenda nt's evidence that during the 6 hours that transpired after performing Embolectomy upon the deceased he had done various other acts has come to nothing. None are enumera ted or recorded by him. Whatever was done, at KEM Hospital was done much later than should have been done.
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 3236. A visualization of the entire process and the effect or aftermat h of the onset of Ischemia shows that speed is the key. In fact, P.W.1, as the expert witness, has himself deposed in Para- 12 of the examination- in- chief about the various ways of managing complications of severe spas m of artery as : (i) Sympat hectomy which was done, (ii) Forgatisation which was also done, (iii) Re- section of the affected segment which was under spas m and joining the two ends after resection, (iv) Graft and (v) by- pass grafting.
37. It can be seen that Sympathectomy was the main surgical process. For whatever that happened thereu n der Embolectomy was done. Anastomosis, which was joining the two ends of the artery which has been pierced for Anastomosis, was also done. When it did not result in the removal of symptoms completely to show its success, the grafting procedure was long delayed. It cannot be the case of the Defenda nt that he did not underst a n d the repercu s sion of such delay becau se he knew that there was embolus found from time to time. Its effect upon kidney resulting in renal failure must be present to the mind of the Defenda nt. He has not even contended that it could not have been envisaged by him. His qualifications and certifications themselves show that he was a fit person who could be taken ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 33 to have known the effect of embolus if left untreated for as long as several hours until 11 p.m. Ischemia which could result in 6 hours would take place. Further, non removal of urine, an aspect which appears to have been completely forgotten by the Defendant, would have also resulted in press u re on the kidneys. Crush syndrome is stated to be the second commonest cause of Ischemia. The resulta nt renal failure, therefore, was avoidable simply by prompt and expeditious action. Only the last of the five modes of managing was not available to the Defenda nt and was not performed by him. That was the by- pass graft. The Defenda nt's own notes, Exhibit D-2, show that Dr.G.V. Parulkar of KEM Hospital, advised immediate transfer of the deceased for a carotid- auxiliary artery grafting. The expression "immediate transfer" in the Defenda nt's notes rings the same bell calling for speed in taking action. Conseque n tly, the opinion of the expert doctor set out at page- 34 of the evidence in the criminal trial about the delay has to be accepted. In view of the fragility of the hum a n system delaying in shifting the deceased to KEM Hospital till 11 p.m. is indeed seen to be an inordinate delay in transferring the patient there from the Defendant's Clinic. [P34 - CC].
38. It may be mentioned that it has been the Plaintiffs ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 34 evidence only in this Suit and not in the criminal trial that the Plaintiffs were informed that artery of the deceased was wrongly cut which led to the emergency. The evidence of P.W.2 suggests that this was mentioned to her by a Nurse who is not examined, and this evidence remains inadmissible as it is hearsay evidence. The case papers of KEM Hospital show injury to subclavian artery as the provisional diagnosis. The history of the deceased is shown to be "Cervical Sympat hectomy with accidental damage of subclavian artery" on 17.2.198 4. Such a history could have been given by the relatives of the deceased upon obtaining information from the Defenda nt's clinic. Aside from the above, no proper history is reported to be available from the deceased himself as he was drowsy. The case papers show an endorseme nt marked "IMP" as follows:-
" (E) Subclavina artery injury - Walkma n's contract u re."
39. It is seen that the specific evidence of P.W.1 as the expert witness in the criminal trial and essentially even this Suit is that the surgery was properly undert a ke n. The procedure of Embolectomy was also proper. The end to end anastomosis was also the required procedure to be carried out. It is only the delay which has resulted in fatality.
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 3540. It may be mentioned that though the evidence of examination- in- chief in this Suit is much the same as in the criminal trial; paragrap h s of unnecess a ry evidence in the criminal trial have been rightly deleted. Yet the aforesaid paragrap h showing the witness' opinion extracted hereinabove from page- 33 of the evidence in the criminal case is deleted in his examination- in- chief in this Suit. It is seen that whereas the aforesaid paragrap h showing that the surgery was properly carried out was deleted, the last two paragrap h s in the examination- in- chief of the witness have been added as the expert opinion only in this Suit. Paragrap h s 14 and 15 of the examination- in- chief find no mention in the witness' evidence in the criminal case. The evidence in the Civil Suit for the first time shows that all the events which followed the original operation were due to the operation itself. It is the witness' opinion that the operation was the primary cause of negligence in the patient who was otherwise young and in normal health. The ultimate opinion of the witness runs contrary to the examination- in- chief of the witness as also the entire evidence in the criminal case.
41. A reference to the witness's opinion at several pages of the evidence in the criminal case deserves a mention despite its repetition. The opinion of the witness in the ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 36 criminal case has been set out thus :-
"The main question in this case is not the correctnes s of surgical procedure or the medical line of treatme nt that was followed in the case, but the lethal complication that developed." [P89- CC] In answer to the Court question, the witness has deposed that in his opinion there was no rash ne s s in performing the operation. [P99- CC].
42. The last paragrap h of the evidence in the criminal case shows the insistence of the witness himself upon his dispas sionate opinion thus :-
"I have alway s given my dispas sionate opinion. It is for this reason that I had said that it does not appear that there is any rashne s s on the part of Dr.Pinto during surgery. " [P101- CC]
43. The quant u m change of opinion in this Suit does not speak much of the professionalism, or ethics of a witness ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 37 who has deposed as an independe n t witness based upon his expert knowledge.
44. The entire evidence against the Defenda nt boils down the delay and can be seen to be non- action with regard to extraction of urine at appropriate time.
45. Upon the aforesaid factual position, it will have to be seen whether any of the following acts of the Defenda nt constitutes negligence:-
(i) Performing Cervical Sympat hectomy upon the deceased.
(ii) Performing Embolectomy when the conventional therapy did not cause the spas m to recede.
(iii) Not causing to be removed the collection of urine of the deceased in his Clinic during the surgical procedure.
(iv) Not shifting the deceased to a better hospital with better infrastr u ct u re facilities with expedition.::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 38
46. In Halsbury's Laws of England, Fourth Edition, Volume- 30 Para- 34 which relates to liabilities of Practitioners and Authorities, the aspect of negligence by medical practitioners has been set out thus:
" (iii) Liabilities of Practiti on ers and Authoriti es A. CIVIL LIABILITY
34. Negligen c e and duties owed to patien t s . A person who holds himself out as ready to give medical advice or treatment impliedly undert ake s that he is possessed of skill and knowledge for the purpose.
Whether or not he is a registered medical practitioner, such a person who is consulted by a patient owes him certain duties,na m ely a duty of care in deciding whether to undert ake the case; a duty of care in deciding what treatmen t to give,a duty of care in his administra tion of that treat men t and a duty of care in answering questions put to him by a patient in circum st a n ce s in which he knows that the patient intends to rely on his answer. A breach of any of these duties will support an action for negligence by the patient."
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 3947. The degree of skill and care required of a medical practitioner is set out in Para- 35 as follows:-
" 35. Degree of skill and care required. The practitioner must bring to his task a reasona ble degree of skill and knowledge, and must exercise a reasonable degree of care. Neither the very highest nor a very low degree of care and competence, judged in the light of the particular circum st a n ce s of each case, is what the law requires, and a person is not liable in negligence becau se someone else of greater skill and knowledge would have prescribed different treatme n t or operated in a different way; nor is he guilty of negligence if he has acted in accordance with a practice accepted as proper by a responsible body of medical men skilled in that particular art, even though a body of adverse opinion also existed among medical men.
Deviation from normal practice is not
necess arily evidence of negligence. To establish
liability on that basis it must be shown (1) that there is a usual and normal practice; (2) that the defenda n t has not adopted it; and (3) that the course in fact adopted is one no professional man of ordinary skill ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 40 would have taken had he been acting with ordinary care."
48. The case of Bolam vs. Friern Hospital Manage m e n t Commit t e e , 19 5 7 2 All England Law Reports 118 = 195 7 1 WLR 582 is the test case followed in a number of English as well as Indian Supreme Court judgment s thereafter which is required to be analyzed with regard to the ambit of what act of a specialist medical professional being a surgeon or a physician would cause negligence.
49. Bolam's case lays down that a doctor who acts in accorda nce with the practice accepted as proper by a responsible body of medical man is not negligent merely because there is a body of opinion that takes a contrary view. Justice McNair has observed as follows:-
"The test is the standard of the ordinary skilled man exercising and professing to have that special skill. A man need not posse s s the highest expert skill; it is well established law that it is sufficient if he exercises the ordinary skill of an ordinary competent man exercising that particular art. In the case of a medical man, negligence means failure to act in accordance with the stand ard s of reasonably competent medical ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 41 men at the time. There may be one or more perfectly proper stan d ard s, and if he conforms with one of these proper standard s, then he is not negligent ."
50. Bolam's case related to treatme n t given to a person suffering from mental illness or depression. The illness was sought to be treated by electro- convulsive therapy. The patient's consent was obtained without explaining the patient the side effects which included risk of fracture. When the procedure was performed no relaxant drugs or man u al control of the patient were used. The evidence showed that such procedures were performed often. The risk of fracture was very rare. However, there were two bodies of opinion favouring the use of (i) relaxant drugs or (ii) man u al control. The manu al control was to stabilize the patient completely so that at the time of administering the electro- convulsive therapy of high voltage which caused convulsion or fits, fractures of bones would not result. During the treatme n t the Plaintiff was kept in a supine position, a pillow was placed under his back, his lower jaw was supported on a mouth gag by a male nurse. However, the patient was not restrained in any way though a male nurse stood at the side. The patient sustained several fractures of hip joints, pelvis, femur etc. The question was whether the doctor negligently failed to take precaution which would have minimized the risk of those injuries. It had to be ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 42 seen whether merely supporting the patient's head, shoulders and chin was enough man u al control as would be required at the time of administration of electrodes. The decision to use electro- convulsive therapy was not challenged. Only the skill of the doctor in taking reason able care at the time of such treatme nt was in question. The address of Justice McNair while sum mi ng up the facts to the Jury showed the requireme nt of care of an ordinary man - he need not possess the highest experience or skill, there can be ample scope of genuine difference of opinion, other body of opinion could take a contrary view, yet the only test was whether the doctor had fallen below the standa r d practice recognized as proper by a competent reasonable body of opinion.
51. Performing Sympat hectomy, as one of the recognized surgical procedures would not constitute negligence even if any other doctor, the expert Dr.Kalke in this case, would have considered another procedure, medical or surgical, to be a better remedy. Hence even if Dr.Kalke advised that the patient should have been first medically treated and then alone put under the knife, the Defenda nt having accepted a recognized procedure for men of his skill would not be negligent in performing such procedure. Similarly though another medical opinion, the expert opinion of Dr.Kalke in this case, may show or suggest that another procedure was ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 43 more preferable than Embolectomy to remove the blood clot that could have formed which sent the artery into spas m, Embolectomy being one of the recognized procedures would allow the Defenda nt to perform it. This principle may extend even to the second Embolectomy performed by the Defenda nt and the further Embolectomy performed by Dr.Khandepa rk a r upon his arrival in the afternoon. The Defenda nt is admittedly a skilled man exercising and professing to have the special skill for the above surgical procedure. He need not have the highest skill required in that procedure. All that is required is for him to exercise that skill as a reasona ble skilled man of such skill would be expected to exercise. Though there may be better procedures, since the Defenda nt conformed with one of those standa r d s by undertaking one of the correct surgical procedures he would be absolved of the charge of negligence in performing that procedure.
52. Evidence has shown that expert opinion of Dr.Kalke is that the procedure of Sympat hectomy is not unk nown to vascular surgery. Similarly the procedure of Embolectomy is not frowned upon in the practice of such surgery. It has to be performed when required. It may be that continuo u s performance of it may have other adverse effects. Dr.Kalke's evidence has shown that even in KEM Hospital before ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 44 undert a king the procedure for by- pass grafting blood clots would have to be removed becau se if grafting is done without that preliminary procedure it would have no effect since the blood circulation would be effected. Conseque ntly the Defenda nt is seen to have complied with Bolam's test with regard to both the surgical procedures - Sympat hectomy and Embolectomy - followed by him.
53. There is, however, an area which is completely lost sight of by the Defenda nt.
ig That was related to this surgery, as it would be in case of any surgery though not stricto sens u a part of the surgery itself. That aspect is the aspect of collection of urine. It is common knowledge, and it needs no expert medical opinion, that there is contin uo u s formation of urine in an individual as a body function which is discharged involunt a rily or, if that is not done, by an external aid. The surgery of the deceased lasted several hours. The body function should be present to the mind of the surgeon. It must be appreciated that the deceased died of renal failure followed by cardiac arrest. It, therefore, prima facie, shows that the kidney had stopped to function involunt arily. It was for the Surgeon to heed the patient's body functions. As Dr.Kalke's evidence shows there is no chart or other evidence showing the extraction or removal of urine of the patient as was done in KEM Hospital. The ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 45 collection of 1000 CC of urine at one time causing the bladder to be distended has shown the complete absence of such collection at an earlier time. That was the time that the deceased was under the care and custody of the Defendant. Referring to the relevant part of the Bolam's test cited above
- "negligence means failure to act in accorda nce with standa r d s of reason a bly competent medical men at that time" shows that the requireme nt of maintaining a chart showing the kidney function, which was reasona bly expected of the Defenda nt, was not performed. The extraction of urine was not done. The lack of evidence is conspicuou s. It is supported by the unrea so n a bly large mass of extraction of urine by external aid in KEM Hospital. It is, in this regard, that it is clear to see that the Defendan t has failed. This would certainly be the standa r d of a reasonably competent surgeon. It was for the Defendant to check this body function and to externally aid his patient in its extraction. That has not been done. Reasonable care to that end is, therefore, not taken. The Defenda nt would fall within the mischief of Bolam's test in that regard.
54. Bolam's test has been followed in the case of Whiteho u s e vs. Jordan & anr., [198 1] 1 All England Reports 26 7 [HL] by Lord Jus tice Edmu n d- Davies. That was a case of a delivery of a child which was reported as "likely to be difficult".
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 46A "trial of forceps" delivery was required to be tried before proceeding to delivery by the Caesarian section. Medical evidence showed that this was a tentative procedure. It required delicate handling of the baby. It required a contin uo u s review of the baby's progress down the birth canal. It also required an obligation to stop traction if it appeared to the surgeon that delivery could not proceed without risk. In that case the surgeon tried to pull the head of the baby by forceps 6 times with each contradiction. The first four forceps pull resulted in some success of the delivery of the baby down the birth canal. At the fifth pull it was noticed that that there was no movement. Hence the surgeon deemed it fit to try once again which was for the 6 th time to see whether there was movement. Upon realizing that that there was no movement he discontinued that procedure. He thereafter pushed the head of the baby up the birth canal and tried Caesarian section. He delivered the baby within 2 minutes. The surgery was a success. The child could not breat h for 35 minutes.
The excessive brain damage resulted. The question before the Court was whether the "trial of forceps" delivery resulted in brain damage by asphyxia or whether the brain damage was due to any other factor. The mother of the child who sued as the Plaintiff on behalf of the child, the surgeon, who performed the delivery as well as another doctor as an expert witness, were examined. The evidence showed that the amount of force ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 47 which to be properly used in a "trial of forceps" was a matter of clinical judgment. The Trial Judge held that there was negligence on the part of the surgeon as the head of the baby was "impacted" because it was required to be disimpacted so that he concluded that it was so firmly wedged and stuck in the birth canal to show that the surgeon had used excessive force which tantamo u n t e d to negligence, knowing that it was a delicate procedure. In Appeal, which set aside the judgment of grant of damages of 1 Lakh Pounds, it was held that while some errors of clinical judgment may be completely consistent with the due exercise of professional skill, certain acts are so glaringly below proper stand ar d s that finding of negligence is inevitable. The test of whether a surgeon has been negligent is whether he failed to meas u re up in any respect, whether in clinical judgment or otherwise, to the stand ar d of an ordinary skilled surgeon having special skill of such procedure. It was seen that the case was of a difficult surgery. Prior X-ray examination had not been done because it was not allowed to be done by the patient. The surgeon did not have the advant age of accurate measu re me n t of the pelvis. The case papers showed that the normal delivery was out of the question. The "trial of forceps" delivery required contin uo u s reviewing. It had to be followed by a Caesarian section. The Caesarian section was impeccably performed. The question before the Court was whether "pulling with 5 or 6 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 48 contradictions" amou nted to passing the limits of professional competence. The evidence showed that pulling could not be past any bony obstr uction. The baby was apparently unda m aged at birth. The evidence showed that the damage occurred later. When the surgeon realized at the 5th attempt that he did not make progress, he tried only once more and gave up in favour of the Caesaria n section. The question considered by the House of Lords was the manner in which the forceps were used and whether it was consistent with the degree of skill which a member of that profession was required by law to exercise. Applying the test in Bolam's case as followed in the case of Chin Keow vs. Governm e n t of Malaysia, [196 7] 1 WLR 813 , it was held that the test was a standa r d of an ordinary skilled man exercising and professing to have that special skill. The expert evidence that the physician's clinical judgment must permit him to conclude that that course of action was correct was held to be the test. The evidence of the surgeon himself is that he did get satisfactory success at the first four pulls and found no movement on the fifth pull so that he wanted to confirm the movement on the sixth pull was held permissible. The surgeon stopped short of further pulls. He made the decision as soon as he came upon a roadblock. He terminated the trial of forceps when "the factor of safety of the baby arose". He abandoned the procedure as soon as he realized its futility.
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 49The Appeal against the grant of damages for negligence was allowed as the surgeon was seen to have exercised the care required of an ordinary skilled surgeon in the circumst a nce s.
55. Applying the test of Whitehou s e vs. Jordan (supra) , the Defenda nt cannot be held negligent either for performing the initial surgery by the procedure of Sympat hectomy or even of Embolectomy, though he performed it more than once. Performing it just once more could be seen by him as a man of such special skill to be required after which he did not further gamble on the procedure. He took a second opinion of a more experienced doctor known to him. The fact that even that doctor tried the same procedure once was expected and must be allowed to his judgment. Hence neither of these procedures would constit ute negligence per se. Had this procedure been repeated often thereafter, as per the evidence of Dr.Kalke that it would have resulted in adverse effects, it could have been an act of negligence attribut a ble to the Defenda nt.
56. In the case of Maynard vs. West Midlands Regional Health Authority, [198 5] 1 A.E.R . 635 (HL), it was held that when there are two procedures that one of which would be selected by a person of a special skill, the fact that one is selected but the other is deemed more appropriate or better by ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:51 ::: 50 a section of expert opinion does not constit ute negligence. In that case a lady was being treated for a chest complaint. It was thought that she was suffering from tuberc ulosis. The tuberculosis test was done. There was a possibility that she might be suffering from Hodgkin's disease. Before obtaining the result of the tuberc ulosis's test, exploratory operation was performed on her to determine whether she suffered from Hodgkin's disease. The result showed that she was suffering from tuberculosis. The operation resulted in a damage to a nerve affecting her speech which was the inherent risk of that operation. She brought an action for negligence on the ground that had the operation not been performed before the test result was declared, she could have been saved the damage. It was held that even if there was a body of competent opinion which considered that the decision was wrong, if there existed a body of professional opinion, skill and competence which supported the decision as being reason able, there was no negligence. The evidence showed that the operation was performed by way of abun d a n t caution because Hodgkin's disease was very dangerous referred to as "the killer disease". Though there was evidence of tuberc ulosis which could be revealed from the medical examination, the opinion of the surgeon, which co- incided with the opinion of a body of such professional experts showed that the case was not of negligence holding that the procedu re was not inconsistent ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 51 with the existence of strong body of evidence given by the distinguished medical men supporting and approving what the surgeon did. Hence the findings of negligence came to be reversed.
57. Bolam's test lays down the actual ambit of the functions of any medical practitioner with regard to an error of judgment or an accidental mistake which may happen despite the fact that the judgment is applied by a particular school of thought even if there may be a contrary school of thought and the error may have happened despite taking all necessary care and precaution. Bolam's case (supra) and the principles laid down therein have been continuo u sly referred to, considered, followed and upheld all through in the Supreme Court judgments, including the case of Achutrao Haribhau Khodwa & ors. vs. State of Maharashtra & ors, AIR 199 6 SC 237 7 , which shall be dealt with in another context presently.
58. The reasona ble degree of skill and knowledge imputed upon the surgeon has been considered by the Supreme Court in the case of Dr.Laxman Balkrishna Joshi vs. Dr.Trimbak Bapu Godbole & anr., AIR 196 9 SC 128 . In that case a boy about 20 years met with an accident at sea beach at Palshet, Ratnagiri District, Maharas h t r a . The accident resulted in fracture of the femur of his left leg. A cot was brought ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 52 produced from home about a mile away. His leg was tied with wooden planks to immobilise it. Thereafter a local doctor replaced the planks with Mac Intyres splints. The boy was brought by taxi 200 miles away to Pune. This took from about 8 a.m. when the accident took place to about 2.15 p.m. when he was admitted to the hospital. An Injection of morphia was given. X-ray of his leg was taken. He was removed to the operation theatre. The injured leg was put in plaster splints.
At about 5.30 p.m. he was removed to the room. The surgeon gave an assur a n ce that he would be out of the effect of morphia by about 7 p.m. The boy developed difficulty in breathing and was administered emergency treatme n t until 9 p.m. when he expired. It was said that the boy was not administered proper general anest hesia. He was given a morphia injection upon the premise that it had the enough analgesic effect required. The surgeon sought to justify the treatme nt because the boy was exhau s ted after a long journey and hence deemed unfit for general anest hesia. Since the procedure for reduction of his fracture was performed without anest he sia the cerebral embolism which resulted was held to be the proximate cause of his death. Referring to Medical Jurispr u de n ce it was held that though the deferred reduction was advisable, the procedure to reduce the plaster without giving an anest hesia was held to be a negligent act of the surgeon. Following the exact stand a rd of care laid down in ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 53 Bolam's case (supra), in Para- 11 of the judgment the duties of a doctor were specified thus :-
" A person who holds himself out ready to give medical advice and treatment impliedly undertake s that he is posses s e d of skill and knowledge for the purpose. Such a person when consulted by a patient owes him certain duties, viz, a duty of care in deciding whether to undertake the case, a duty of care in deciding what treatment to give or a duty of ig care in the administration of that treatment. A breach of any of those duties gives a right of action for negligence to the patient. The practitioner must bring to his task a reasonable degree of skill and knowledge and must exercise a reasonable degree of care. Neither the very highest nor a very low degree of care and competence judged in the light of the particular circumstances of each case is what the law requires: (of Halbury's Laws of England, 3 rd ed. Vol. 26 p.17) ."
59. In the case of M/s.Spring Meadows Hospital & anr. vs. Harjol Ahluwalia through K.S. Ahluwalia & anr., AIR 19 9 8 SC 180 1 , the application of the Consu m er Protection Act for medical services was considered. In that case a minor admitted to the hospital was diagnosed to be suffering from typhoid. Medicines for treatme nt of typhoid ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 54 fever were prescribed. The nurse told the father of the minor to purcha se an injection Lariago to be administered intravenou sly. The patient immediately collapsed. The nurse had not made the sensitive test to find out whether there would be any adverse reaction. The patient suffered a cardiac arrest. Despite emergency respiratory treatme n t there was no improvement. The child was directed to be shifted to ICU as the hospital did not have infrastr uct u r al requireme nt for an Auto Respirator. The child was diagnosed to have ig suffered irreparable damage upon admission to All India Institute of Medical Sciences. The child remained in a vegetative state. Following the case of Whiteho u s e vs. Jordan (supra) (which in turn followed Bolam's case), it was observed that an error of judgment could not tanta mo u n t to negligence, though a mistake which would tanta mo u n t to negligence could not be pardoned. The nature of error considered in that case by Lord Fraser was reiterated - if the mistake was such as would not be made by a professional man professing to have the stand ar d and type of skill required and acting with ordinary care then it would be negligence. If it was an error that such a man acting with ordinary care might have made it, it would not be negligence. In Para- 10 of the judgment, the illustrations of negligence are set out. The use of wrong drug or wrong gas during the course of anaest netic treatme nt could be negligence. The ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 55 principle of Res ipsa loquitur can be applied. Even delegation of responsibility to another person may amou n t to negligence if there was knowledge that he was incapable of performing his duties properly. The Court, therefore, considered damage for mental agony to the parents of the only living child in a vegetative state on account of negligence of the Hospital Authority on a hospital bed.
60. In the case of Dr.Suresh Gupta vs. Govt. of NCT of Delhi of Delhi & anr., (2004) 6 SCC 422 , distinction between tortuou s liability upon negligence and the criminal liability came to be considered. That was a case of death due to performa nce of a procedure called rhinoplasty. A patent died immediately after the operation. Cause of death in the postmortem report was stated to be blockage of respiratory passage by aspirated blood conseque nt upon surgically incised margin of nasal septu m. This was caused because of non- introduction of endotrac heal tube to prevent blood from the wound to go to the respiratory passage. It was held that if this was true, it would be a negligent act which would attract tortuou s liability because the act showed lack of due care and preca ution but such carelessnes s could not be described as so reckless as to attract criminal liability. In that case the patient suffered a cardiac arrest on the operation table. The Anaesthetian as well as the Surgeon ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 56 started respiratory meas u re s and shifted him to the ICU of Gangara m hospital where the patient died. It was held that the doctor could be made liable in civil law for compensa tion and damages in tort. But only if the negligence was gross and reckless would he be criminally liable.
61. The Bolam test has been applied by the Supreme Court again in the case of Jacob Mathew vs. State of Punjab & anr., AIR 200 5 SC 318 0 . A terminally ill cancer patient who was required only to be kept in the comfort house without any hope of getting better was forcibly admitted to a hospital by his influential sons who insisted upon the hospital for contin uo u s medical care and diet. The patient had breathi ng difficulty. An oxygen cylinder was connected to his mout h.
The breathing problem increased. The patient tried to get up, but the medical staff asked him to remain in bed. The oxygen cylinder was found empty. There was no other cylinder in the room. Another cylinder was obtained from the adjoining room.
5 to 7 minutes passed by. The patient was declared dead. It was observed that the doctors had given the very best treatme nt they could. "The whole staff danced attend a nce on the patient". The charge of rash and negligence act under Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code was held not maintain able. Relying upon the case of Dr.Suresh Gupta (supra) in which a distinction was made between tortuou s and ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 57 criminal liability for the act of negligence, the argume n t that negligence was the same in tortuo us and criminal liability was rejected. That case was upon a nasal disability which was sought to be corrected by surgery. The operation was neither complicated nor serious. Yet the patient died because endotrache al tube was not inserted to prevent aspiration of blood from the wound to the respiratory passage. The aspect of mens rea was observed to be utmost importance for imputing the criminal liability upon the doctor. Bolam test was applied to test the standar d of professional negligence.
ig It was held in paragrap h 19 of the judgment that negligence can be imputed upon one of the two findings : (i) that the doctor was not possessed of the requisite skill which he professed to have and
(ii) that he did not exercise with reasonable competence the skill that he possessed. The standa r d to determine that was of an ordinary competent person exercising ordinary skill in that profession. It was observed in paragrap h 21 how the Bolam test was valid in various judgment s in the United Kingdom thus:-
" The water of Bolam test has ever since flown and passe d under several bridges, having been cited and dealt with in several judicial pronouncement s, one after the other and has continued to be well received by every shore it has touched as neat, clean and well- conden s e d one."::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 58
After a review of various authorities, the speech of Bingham , L.J. in Eckersle y vs. Binnie, [188 8] 18 Com LR 1, 79 sum m a rising the Bolam test in the following words was reproduced:-
"From these general statement s it follows that a professional man should comman d the corpus of kno wledge which forms part of the professional equipment of the ordinary member of his profession. He should not lag behind other ordinary assiduous and intelligent members of his profession in kno wledge of new advances, discoveries and development s in his field. He should have such an awarene s s as an ordinarily competent practitioner would have of the deficiencies in his kno wledge and the limitations on his skill.
He should be alert to the hazards and risks in any professional task he undertake s to the extent that other ordinarily competent members of the profession would be alert. He must bring to any professional task he undertake s no less expertise, skill and care than other ordinarily competent members of his profession would bring, but need bring no more. The standard is that of the reasonable average. The law does not require of a professional man that he be a paragon combining the qualities of polymath and prophet. (Charles - worth & Percy, ibid, Para 8.04)."
Furt her the judgment of Lord Justi c e Denning in Hucks vs. Cole, [196 8] 118 New LJ 469 laying down the limits of the action on negligence were also referred to. Conseque n tly simply becau se the things went wrong by mischa nce or mis- advent ure or through the error of judgment the medical practitioner was held not liable. The case of Maynard vs. ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 59 West Midlands Regional Health Authority (supra) , was also fully considered for setting the parameters of the Bolam test. Hence in paragraph 26 of the judgment it was held that a mere deviation from normal procedure or an accident or an error of judgment would not constit ute negligence. If the procedure performed was acceptable to medical science as on that date, the Court exercised caution even on the application of res ipsa loquitur per se to the medical practitioner. The apprehe n sion of the Court about the counter- productiveness of a loosely made charge of negligence - civil or criminal, was expressed in paragrap h 29 thus :-
"A surgeon with shak y hand s under fear of legal action cannot perform a successful operation and a quivering physician cannot administer the end- dose of medicine to his patient."
62. Conseque n tly the criminal charge of negligence is ruled out except in the grossest cases perfectly proved by the prosecution. Nevertheless, the Bolam test remains to be considered in case of civil liability for the tort of negligence.
63. Following upon that in the case of State of Punjab vs. Shiv Ram & ors., [2005] 7 SCC 1 , Chief Justice Lahoti (as he then was) applied the Bolam test. Conseque ntly, a lady who conceived and procreated a daughter after ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 60 sterilization operation was held not entitled to claim damages of Rs.3 Lakhs claimed by her and the decree of Rs.50,000 / - with interest and costs granted to her by the Trial Court was set aside holding that parameters of the Bolam test were not satisfied since it was shown that the medical science recognized failure of sterilization operation to the extent of 0.3% to 3% and because consequences of the failure can promptly be taken care of by the pregnant woman by undergoing abortion.
64. The procedure s undertake n by the Defenda nt being the procedure of Sympat hectomy as well as Embolectomy fall completely within the parameters of Bolam test. Whether or not the Plaintiff contends that the expert opinion suggests that medical treatment should be given in preference to a surgical treatmen t by every medical practitioner and the Defenda nt should have embarked upon such a course and inquired whether all the medical treatme nt that could have been given to the deceased has been already given by the Consulta n t Physician who referred the case to the Defenda nt, Dr.Kalke, the witness on behalf of the Plaintiff, who is himself a Vascular Surgeon, has stated that Sympat hectomy is indeed one of the procedure s legitimately undert a ke n by a sizable surgical fraternity for the problem that the deceased suffered. The Defenda nt, ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 61 therefore, came out clear with regard to the performa nce of the treatme nt. None can raise a finger against the Defenda nt in that regard. Mistakes do occur in every hum a n activity, including surgery. The wisdom and profundity of the law allows the medical practitioner not to be contin uo u sly derided for legitimate mistakes. Complications do occur during surgery. In fact, that is an aspect of which Judicial Notice is required to be taken. Corrective procedure s are undert a ke n in cases without number. Genuine errors do get corrected in later surgical or medical procedures.
ig Those
procedures once again fall within the Bolam test. They call
for the same parameters in reviewing the extent of the
negligence therein. If such procedures, which a sizable
medical opinion would permit, are followed, once again the surgeon would steer himself clear of the shadow of negligence. The Defendan t whilst performing the Embolectomy fell within those parameters. The evidence has revealed that if an embolus is detected, for whatever reason, an error in the performa nce of Sympat hectomy or otherwise, it has to be removed. Embolectomy is one of the procedures for its removal. Even if there be other or better procedures, medical science as on the date of the surgery allowed Embolectomy to be one of them. This was performed twice because the first Embolectomy did not clear the arteries of the deceased. It was not performed ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 62 again and again which could result in arterial damage as is the evidence of Dr.Kalke. Dr.Khandepa r k a r performed its once, Dr.Kalke has himself deposed that if he were to come upon such symptoms he would be constrained to perform an Embolectomy likewise. At the time of by- pass grafting in the KEM Hospital also Embolectomy had to be performed and then the two ends of the artery had to be sut ured. Dr.Kalke's evidence in that regard stands to reason. A graft would be of no use if the circulation in the artery is not flawless. Any embolus or clot in the blood stream within the artery would, therefore, have to be removed before grafting is made if the newly grafted portion of the artery has to have a healthy blood circulation unobstr uc ted by any embolus. Conseque n tly, with regard to both these procedure s the Defenda nt's act falls within the parameters of the Bolam test. He cannot be held liable for negligence for either of them.
65. The next part of the Defenda n t's function as a surgeon - responsible as he was expected to be - was in doing what every reasona ble medical practitioner of his standi ng, or even of a lesser specialty would be expected to do. It is common knowledge that in every clinic and for every surgery temperat u re, pulse, blood- press u re are required to be taken. A chart in that behalf is required to be maintained. This is ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 63 becau se these are the symptoms which would immediately show signs of danger, if any during or post surgery. Similarly body function has to be monitored. Excretion of urine from the body is essentially through the kidney. Urine is required to be discharged as a body function involunta rily or by induceme nt. It is, therefore, not too much to expect from any medical practitioner, a physician or a surgeon, that he maintains record and vigilance for the urine output of a patient. During or after surgery the patient's urine output automatically diminishes. In several cases there is no involunt ary output at all. The Defenda nt, as a surgeon, who had the care and custody of the deceased as his patient, was required to monitor this aspect. There is absolutely no evidence produced for such monitoring. No chart showing kidney outpu t has been kept or relied upon; no urine outpu t is recorded. The deceased remained in the operation theatre from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. when he removed was to his room. During all those hours the normal excretory body function was expected to have been performed. Had it been performed there would not have been accum ul ation of as much as the liter of urine in the bladder of the deceased. In the night between 17 th and 18 th Febru ary 1984, a liter of urine granular and of dark colour was removed in KEM Hospital. The evidence of Dr.Kalke that so much urine could only be accum ul ated over long hours stands to reason, given the fact that his evidence is that usu al outpu t per day is ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 64 about 700 CC which is 2/ 3 rd of the bulk that was removed.
Hence his evidence falls in place to determine what has been conspicuou s by his absence - the non- removal of the urine throughout the time that the deceased remained in the Defenda nt's clinic. This was over the period of the entire day from 9 a.m. to about 10 p.m.
66. It must be appreciated that the proximate cause of the death of the deceased is renal failure, going into cardiac arrest. His kidneys had been irreparably damaged.
ig He was
put on dialysis which also did not work. He was a healthy
man of 30 years on the 17 th when he walked into the Defenda nt's clinic, never to go back into the world. He expired a mere 3 days thereafter despite efforts at re-
activating his kidneys. It is this aspect which stares in the face of the evidence and which lends itself to the case of such negligence as is not even required to be proved. It squarely falls within the the ambit of the doctrine of Res ipsa loquitur.
67. The other aspect which fits into the parameters of this doctrine is the aspect of delay. The delay becomes material even with regard to the extraction of urine, but it extends further. That delay is with regard to the grafting procedure itself which was done in KEM Hospital. The ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 65 evidence that if the same procedure could have been earlier done the result would have been happier, applies with equal force to the extraction of urine itself for relieving the kidney of the press ure which was put upon it by the distended bladder containing an outlandis h amou nt of accum ul ated urine. Even with regard to the aspect of delay, the Defendant as a specialist Cervical Surgeon, having the qualifications that he does, considering the certificates that he has relied upon and produced, is expected to have the knowledge that embolus in the blood stream requires extreme expedition for its removal. If one method does not work out, the other method which would require better infrastr u ct u r al facilities would have to be adopted with the greatest despatc h. In that also the Defenda nt faulted. For no explicable reason and after not showing any material effort tried out during that period he did not shift the deceased to a better hospital much sooner than he actually did. The deceased was shifted hours after irreversible damage was done and his condition was beyond redemption. It is impossible to conclude that the surgeon with such special skill would allow himself to ignore the required speed with which to act while the patient was under his care and failed to put him in the care of better infrastr uct u r al facilities which alone could have saved the patient. It is impossible to conclude that the Defenda nt could have expected the condition of the deceased to improve ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 66 under his treatme nt after hours of having contin uo u s embolus, one after another.
68. The argume nt on behalf of the Plaintiffs by Mr.Sha is essentially in respect of the delay as a cause for negligence. The delay is in shifting the deceased to KEM Hospital. The treatme nt in KEM Hospital which could have been given without delay much earlier is seen to be two- fold : (i) The grafting after clearing the artery to re- instate circulation and
(ii) the removal of the urine from the bladder, an aspect completely lost sight of. The evidence of Dr.Kalke in the criminal proceedings shows but one conclusion. Though the initial procedure was correct and procedure for rectifying the error was also correct, the delay was fatal. That delay resulted in what he deposed as the "Crush Syndrome". (P95 CC).
69. The Defendant having been cleared of the Bolam Test, it will have to be seen whether these two aspects would bring the Defenda nt's case under the doctrine of Res ipsa loquitur.
70. The doctrine of Res ipsa loquitur used in all common law jurisdictions is that where the thing which caused an injury is shown to be under the manageme nt of the Defenda nt or his servant and the accident is such as in ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 67 the ordinary course of things does not happen if those who have its managemen t or control used proper care, it affords reasona ble evidence, in the absence of explanation by the Defenda nt, that the accident arose from want of care. This doctrine enunciated in Vol.65A of Corpus Juris Secundu m on Negligen c e at paragraph 220. 2 at page 512 has been enunciated also in Halsbury's Law of England Vol.34, 4 th Editio n in paragraph 57 . It applies with equal force to cases of medical negligence and its ambit would be the same
- injury caused to the Plaintiff. The Plaintiff was under the care, custody and, therefore, the manageme nt of the Defenda nt. In the ordinary course of things, the injury would not have happe ned. If the Defenda nt had used proper care also the injury would not have happened. The injury that did happen in this case is renal failure. It can be seen that it happened because of want of care. That care is of extraction of urine. There is no explanation by the Defenda nt as to why it happe ned, what he did to prevent it, or even a denial that it did not happen because of him by showing what reasonable care he had taken in the management and control of the Plaintiff after his surgery in his Clinic.
71. The term " Res ipsa loquitur " means "the thing speaks for itself". Corpus Juris Secund u m (supra) has ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 68 explained it thus : [page : 517 ] "It is a terse way of saying that the circumstances attend a nt on the accident to which it is applied are of themselves of such a character as to justify a jury in inferring negligence as the cause thereof. In other words, the doctrine permits negligence to be inferred from the physical cause of an accident, without the aid of circumstances pointing out to the responsible huma n cause ......"
" ..... The doctrine is based on common and everyda experience. That is on the postulate that under common experience of mankind an accident of the particular kind does not happen except through negligence." [page 519]
72. R.A. Buckley on The Modern Law of Negligen c e 19 8 8 Edition at page 33 explains the doctrine thus :
"If, but only if, what occurred was something which would not normally be expected to occur in the absence of carelessne s s on the part of those who have control or managem ent of the operation, then a presu mption of negligence will be raised in the plaintiff's favour. It follows that in such a case the defen d a n t cannot succeed on a submis sion of no case to ans w er. The defendant must offer evidence if he is to succeed in defeating the plaintiff's claim. If the defen d a n t is able to explain fully and in detail how the accident occurred it will be for the court to decide, applying in the usual way the ordinary principles relating to the evaluation of conduct, whether or not ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 69 negligence liability should be imposed."
73. Hence, what is of significance is the defence relating to the aspect of delay in shifting the Plaintiff to KEM Hospital and in extracting the collected urine over a period of hours. The Defenda nt has not offered any evidence in that behalf and the Court must, therefore, consider the Plaintiff's case of negligence as undefended to that extent.
74. Winfield and Jolowi cz on Tort, Thirteen t h Edition at page 12 5 in the chapter of "Breach of Duty" considers the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur thus:
"There are certain happenings that do not normally occur in the absence of negligence, and upon proof of these a court will probably hold that there is a case to ans w er."
It can be seen that collection of a litre of urine does not normally happen in the absence of a person's kidney having failed to involuntarily excrete and would be allowed to remain in the bladder unless it is excreted by induction. It can be seen that this is a happening which "does not normally occur".
The deceased having been so debilitated as he could not excrete himself and the Defenda nt having seen not to have done it on his behalf through external aids, there is a case of negligence in that behalf, given the fact that the Defenda nt is a ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 70 medical professional who should have known about the aftermat h of collection of urine of such quantity and over such a long period of time.
75. This principle has been set out in the case of Scott vs. London & St. Katherine Docks Co. (186 5) 3 H. & C. 59 6 which has been reproduced in the Law of Torts by Salmo nd & Heusto n e, 12 th Edition @ page 248 thus:
"the accident is such as in the ordinary course of things does not happen if those who have the manageme nt use proper care."
76. Das & Sodhi on Negligen c e 199 7 Edition Medical & Non- Medical alongwith Legal Remedie s shows the examples of the application of the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur to the following medical cases:-
" (1) failure to remove the swabs during operation which may lead to complications or cause death, (2) failure to give anti- tetanic seru m in cases of injury causing tetan u s, (3) loss of use of hand due to prolonged splinting, (4) burn s from application of hot water bottles or from X-ray therapy, (5) breaking of needless, (6) blood transfu sion misadvent u re, (7) prescribing an overdose of medicine producing ill ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 71 effects, (8) giving poisonous medicine carelessly. "
77. The cases on medical negligence which have been considered in judgments of the Supreme Court cover a rather wide range. In the case of A.S. Mittal & anr., vs. State of U.P. & ors., (1989) 3 SCC 223 contamina tion in saline bought and used by the surgeon to irrigate the eyes of cataract operations which resulted in complete blindnes s to several of the patients upon which surgery was performed in an eye camp was held to fall under the doctrine.
ig It is observed in that case that whole program me of the eye camp proved to be a disastrou s medical misadvent u re for the patients. The operated eyes of the patients were irreversibly damaged, owing to a post- operative infection of the intra ocular cavities of the operated eyes. Despite administration of antibiotic medication, oral as well as local, the damage could not be undone. A non- contamina ted saline would not have produced such a "mishap". The judgment considered the concept of the reason able man in the Law of Torts. The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur taken from Street on Torts 19 8 3 Seven t h Edition page 126 was applied in paragrap 23 of the judgment, which reads thus:
" . . . where an unexplained accident occurs from a thing under the control of the defendant, and medical, or other expert evidence show s that such ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 72 accident s would not happen if proper care were used, there is at least evidence of negligence for a jury."
The Court considered essentially two cases from Halsbury's Law of England and Charlsworth and Percy on "Negligen c e" . The first was a case of the Plaintiff developing meningitis as a result of infection in the appar at u s used in the operation. Negligence was imputed upon hospital staff for which the hospital Authority was held responsible. The other case was of a woman who was placed in the same ward with another person suffering from puerperal fever so that she also contacted it. The doctor was held negligent in not isolating the patient with the fever to prevent another from being infected. Though it was observed in paragrap h 22 of the judgment that the operation is "race against time", the Court will make greater allowance for mistakes on the part of the surgeon or his assista n t s. The Supreme Court, taking into account the "Risk- benefit test" and considering the case of Dr.Laxman Balkrishna Joshi (supra), considered the duties of the doctor as enunciated therein. The Court also observed about the necessity of mainten a nce of highest standa r d s of aseptic and sterile conditions in Opht hal mic surgery - or any surgery. The Court considered the need for revised guidelines and granted enhanced compens a tion to the victims.
78. This case was followed in the case of Achutrao ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 73 Haribhau Khodwa (supra) in which case a Mop (towel ) was left in the body of the patient after she delivered the child and underwent surgical procedure of sterlisation operation when collection of pus was found after the patient's condition deteriorated soon after the surgery. A second surgery was done upon suspicion of the first surgery having gone amiss. The Mop was found and removed from the patient's peritoneal cavity. It had remained there for a number of days causing inflamm ation. Inflamm atory condition reached a stage from which recovery was very difficult. Intestine of the patient contin ued to remain paralysed even after the removal of Mop. The contention of the High Court that the Plaintiff had failed to prove that the mop which was left inside the abdomen has caused the death of the patient was set aside and the order of the Trial Court granting damages was confirmed upon holding that the doctor and the hospital were negligent in leaving the mop in the abdomen. Upon the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur, it was observed that it became redun d a n t for the Plaintiff to prove the act of negligence. The Bolam test was considered in this case with regard to the negligence of the doctor.
Similarly after referring to the A.S. Mittal's case (supra), the principle that "A mistake by a medical practitioner which which no reason ably competent and a careful practitioner would have committed is a negligent one" was applied. The ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 74 Court considered the Bolam's test and the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur as explained thereto in paragrap h s 15 and 16. Whereas in paragrap h 15, the Court observed that the skill of medical practitioner differs from doctor to doctor and if there is more than one course of treatme nt which could be advised to the patient the Courts would be slow in attributing negligence to the doctor based upon his medical opinion or hold him guilty of negligence for selecting a particular course of action, it was observed in paragrap h 16 that in cases where doctors' act carelessly and in a man ner which is not expected of a medical practitioner, then in such a case an action in torts would be maintain able. It was observed in that judgment that the operation itself was not serious in the nat ure. It could be performed under local anaet hesia. Complications arose which resulted in a second operation. Even the expert doctor examined by the Defenda nt showed that the death was due to peritonitis. The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur applied. It was, therefore, held in paragrap h 17 of the judgment that when the doctor acts without due care and caution and leaves a foreign body inside the patient after performing an operation and it supp u r a t e s, the doctrine would apply and the doctor would be held negligent. It was observed that formation of pus left no doubt that the mop left in the abdomen caused death. It was the pus formation that caused all the subseque n t ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 75 difficulties. Hence it was observed as follows:-
"There is no escape from the conclusion that the negligence in leaving the mop in Chandrikabai's abdomen during the first operation led, ultimately, to her death. But for the fact that a mop was left inside the body, the second operation on 19 th July, 1963 would not have taken place."
The Defenda nt in this case failed to measu re upto the expected standa r d of care of any medical practitioner on both the above counts - delay in transferring the deceased to KEM Hospital and omission of extraction of urine whilst the deceased remained in his Clinic. The Defenda nt falls squarely within the doctrine of Res Ipsa Loquitur on these count s.
79. The other aspect with regard to the negligence of the Defenda nt contended on behalf of the Plaintiffs that he did not inform the original Plaintiffs or the present Plaintiffs that he was to operate upon the deceased. This entire reasoning for claiming damages as an act of rash ne s s or negligence is esoteric. The evidence of the original Plaintiff No.1, the father of the deceased, given in the Criminal Court, certified copy of which has been produced on record as well as the evidence of P.W.2 , who is the sister of the deceased, bears out this fact.
80. The main thru st of the evidence of this witness shows ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 76 that the deceased himself had not informed any of his family members about the proposed surgery. He suffered from an unu s u al condition. He was a business m a n . He was 30 years' old. He was admittedly mat ure. He decided upon his medical treat me nt himself and did not involve his family members.
81. The evidence of the father in the Criminal Court shows that he had left home stating that he would not come home for lunch but will come only in the evening. His cross-
examination shows that his son was thinking of consulting a doctor for his condition. He did not accompa ny the deceased because the deceased was rather mat ure. He did not even know that the deceased had approached Dr.Jos hi, who was his Consulting Physion. Even after the death of the deceased and when he decided to sue the Defenda nt civilly as well criminally, he did not contact Dr.Jos hi. His evidence shows that there was no particular confidence sharing between the father and the son. It is for the son himself to initially inform his family members. If the son does not want to inform the family members, it hardly lies in their mouth to blame the doctor for the information that the doctor failed to supply.
82. The evidence of the sister examined as P.W.2 in this ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 77 Suit shows that the deceased had casually told the Plaintiff that his palm used to perspire and he used to consult the doctor. He had left home earlier than usu al on that day without informing any family members that he was going to cons ult any doctor or take any treatme n t. The family only later learnt about the operation from the Defendan t. Her evidence is much the same as that of her father in this regard.
83. The medical case papers show the consent obtained from the Defenda nt himself. That is in accorda nce with the usu al practice. The surgery was minor. The deceased was to be discharged the same day. He was an adult patient. His consent, which is seen to free consent, is enough to proceed with the surgery.
84. The papers of the Defenda nt's Clinic show the address of the deceased but not the Defenda nt telephone number of his residence. The Defenda nt had not taken down the contact num ber of any of the relatives of the deceased though he had specifically directed the deceased to keep them present and though the Defenda nt knew that the deceased had not brought his parent s along with him but had telephoned them and had assu red the Defenda nt that they would arrive. The Defendan t had had to rum m age ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:52 ::: 78 through the bag of the deceased to find out the telephone number to phone his residence after complications occurred. However, in the circums t a n ce s in which the deceased was, of not sharing any confidence of his medical condition with his family members, that aspect cannot assu me any greater importa nce than the fact that when required, the Defenda nt had to find out the telephone num ber. That would have taken him a few extra minutes. Seminally the deceased himself was to blame for giving no information to his own parents or family members.ig
85. The evidence of the Defenda nt upon a charge of negligence with regard to information to the family members that he had orally informed his patient to keep his parent s present and the patient had assured him that his parents would arrive is enough evidence to show reasona ble care by the Defenda nt.
86. The totality of the evidence appreciated upon considering the jurispru de nce relating to the tort of negligence, shows that the Defenda nt carried out the procedures of Sympat hectomy and Embolectomy as per his discretion, which was in accorda nce with a section of medical opinion and medical science at that time, after obtaining consent from the deceased. So much of his act ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:53 ::: 79 constitutes no negligence at all. The negligence is only, as aforesaid, with regard to the delay in shifting him to the KEM Hospital as late as at 11 p.m. and upon being instru me n t al in irreversibly damaging kidney of the deceased for want of any care by extraction of urine. The negligence on account of these last two factors must clearly be imputed upon the Defenda nt. Hence Issue No.(i) is answered in the negative and Issue No.(ii) is answered in the affirmative.
87. Issue Nos.(iii) and (iv) Re : Damages :
Negligence having been proved, these issues require the Plaintiff to prove the liability for damages claimed by them and the extent of the damages. The deceased was a Commerce Gradu a te of pass class. He had no further education. He had served between 1973 and 1979. He was in business from the year 1979. He carried on business in the name and style of Prakas h Automobile. He dealt in automobile and the tractor spare parts as a sole proprietor from his residence. The tenan ted residential premises where he carried on business was on the 2 nd floor in a one room- kitchen flat where his mother, father and his sisters lived. The certificates of registration under the Bombay Sales Tax Act and the Central Sales Tax Act have been produced, showing the carrying on business as contended by the Plaintiffs. The place of business is the residential premises shown therein.::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:53 ::: 80
88. The income tax retur n s for the years 1981- 82, 1982- 83 and 1983- 84 are produced. There is no cross- examination on them. The copies of the income tax retur n s bearing the original stamp of the Income Tax Officer dated 25.8.1982, 29.8.1983 and 26.9.1984 are produced. These docume n t s are, therefore, proved by secondary evidence. The natu re of the docume nt s themselves show the age of the docume nt s. There is nothing to show or suggest that the contents of these docume nt s are untr ue. The income tax return s for the 3 years prior to the death of the deceased would be required to be seen to underst a n d his business position.
89. It is stated in paragrap h s 23 and 24 that the deceased contributed to the house hold. The extent of contribution is not stated. He also contrib uted to the educational expenses of his sisters. Even the extent of such expenses is not stated. What is the education of the sisters of the deceased is also not specified. The Bank Stateme nt s of the deceased, though called upon, have not been produced.
90. Paragrap h 24 of the Affidavit of examination- in- chief shows that he used to press his father to retire from private service where he was getting Rs.1,200 / - per month. The cross- examination of P.W.2 has shown that the father had ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:53 ::: 81 retired from International Lubricant s, a Private Firm where he served. His father, who was a Manager, received about Rs.1 Lakh on his retirement.
91. The sisters are independen t. They live with dignity. The cross- examination shows that though they are not rich, they do not beg or borrow. They are self sufficient. That is not an aspect which should disentitle them from legitimate damages for the death of their brother which was truly shocking. The original Plaintiff, the father of the deceased, expired in 1995. Despite entreaties of the deceased, he could not enjoy his son's contribution during his lifetime. He lived the life of dignity.
92. It is stated in paragrap h 22 of the Affidavit of examination- in- chief of Plaintiff No.2 that the deceased earned Rs.80,000 / - during the last financial year of his life. The Plaintiffs have relied upon the income tax return s from the year 1982 to the year 1985 to show his income. The initial retur n s have been filed in the years prior to the death of the deceased by the deceased himself.
93. The capital account of the year 1981- 82 shows a profit of Rs.30,874.33 on which tax of Rs.5399 / - has been paid. The retur n s for the year 1982- 83 show a net profit of Rs.48,625.60, for which a tax of Rs.12,333 / - is shown to be ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:53 ::: 82 paid. In the last tax retur n filed after his death by the sister of the deceased for the business of the deceased from 1.4.1983 to the date of his death 20.2.1984 a net profit of Rs.37,738.77 is shown for which income tax of Rs.4566 / - is paid.
94. There is nothing extraordinarily excessive about the last tax retur n s. Each of the tax return s are in the same region. The deceased made a net profit between Rs.30,000 / - and Rs.50,000 / - in the last 3 years of his life in his business. It is only based upon these return s that the damages are required to be calculated, aside of course from considering the damages for mental anguish which cannot be brus he d aside in case of death of this nat ure. It must be present to the mind of the Court that this is not a case of death in a road accident. Such death is more likely and expected than a death on a hospital bed of an otherwise healthy person who left home in the morning wishing to retur n in the evening. The damages to be calculated cannot be under an arithmetical formula in the case of negligence such as this.
95. The deceased himself was a young man in busines s.
He was expected to prosper. There is nothing to show otherwise. He was until then not married. He did not have unu s u al expenses. None are shown. The extent of damages for the negligence of the Defenda nt would be required to be ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:53 ::: 83 computed also upon seeing the kind and the extent of his negligence which is not comput a ble in arithmetical figures. A case of medical negligence is distinguis ha ble from a case of road accident where the negligence is only by rash driving. The tenor of the cross- examination to show and suggest the only extent of income of the deceased and the dependency of his family members is rather misconceived. The docume nt s only aid the Court in underst a n di ng the station in life of the deceased and of his family members. The Court has to consider the more material facts of how the life of a patient would hang in balance at the hands of a doctor who would care little of the sequel and outcome of his acts and omissions which would certainly result in gross conseque nces. Huma n rights of an individual are involved in a case such as this. It is the case of a loss of life at the hand s of a professional from the noblest profession. The Defenda nt, as the Specialist, would be expected to have the expertise and knowledge and the conseque nt care and appreciation of his acts which would go a long way in enha ncing the quality of life of his patients. The surgery was essentially cosmetic. The sweating in the palms and the feet of the deceased, which presu m a bly embarra s se d him, was expected to vane or disappear. The result was the reverse. The deceased paid with his life. Of course, the Defenda nt has shown remorse which is expected to be genuine. He had no ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:53 ::: 84 intention of causing the death which actually resulted not from his acts but from his omissions. The value of a life lost cannot be measu red from the income tax retur n s of the deceased alone. A poverty stricken individual is as much entitled to his life as a rich individual. Though the actual damage suffered by his family members would have to be computed taking into account their position in life qua the deceased largely upon what the deceased earned and how he contributed to them, that would not be the only factor for consideration. The compens ation given by the Supreme Court in cases of medical negligence set out above do not show an arithmetical formula for comput a tion. They however do show appreciation of the station in life of the victims. In the case of A.S. Mittal (supra) where poor persons who went in an eye- camp for cataract surgery were blinded by infected saline, a compen s a tion of Rs.12,500 / - in addition to Rs.5,000 / - earlier paid to each of them was granted in or about 1989. In the case of Achutrao H. Khodwa (supra) , the lady who died due to inflamm ation of her intestine by the Mop which remained post surgery, the damages of Rs.36,000 / - granted by the Trial Court were upheld while setting aside the judgment of the High Court reversing the Trial Court's judgment and decree.
96. The claim by the Plaintiffs is under various separate ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:53 ::: 85 prayers taking into consideration the damages for loss of being upon the death of the deceased as well as the damages for mental shock and suffering. Such damages are essentially the compens ation payable to the Plaintiffs and must as such "compens ate" the Plaintiffs and include also the amoun t of interest that would accrue upon such compens ation.
97. The claim for damages in this case has been made since 1985 soon after the death of the deceased. It is due to legal delays that the Plaintiffs have received no damages for 22 years. The grant of damages after so long upon considering the appreciation of money value during the last 2 decades would also have to be appreciated. Taking all these factors into accou nt, a consolidated sum of Rs.10,00,000 / - (Rupees Ten Lakhs only) would be a reasona ble amoun t to be paid as damages for negligence of the Defenda nt by the omissions stated hereinabove. Issue Nos.3 and 4 are answered accordingly.
98. Issue No.(v) :
ORDER Suit is decreed for damages for negligence valued at Rs.10,00,000 / - (Rupees Ten Lakhs only).
The Defenda nt shall pay interest at the rate of 6% ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:53 ::: 86 p.a. from the date of this judgment till payment / r e alization.
[SMT.ROSHAN DALVI, J.] ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 14:02:53 :::