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and that the hospital bill of Rs.1,00,852/- had been paid. This witness was not cross-examined at all.

15. The third witness whose evidence was led by the claimant was Dr. Sundeep G. Mestry, a pulmonologist at the Criti-care ICU 8 of 39 FA14-13-F & Superspeciality Centre that he runs at Airoli. Dr. Mestry deposed that Ms. Panchal was transferred to his hospital from Wockhardt on 6th July 2006 with a case of post traumatic diaphragmatic paralysis due to cervical injury with quadriplegia. She had bilateral pneumonia. Her oxygen levels were very low. She was given medical treatment including physiotherapy. Dr. Mestry deposed that Ms. Panchal was completely bed-ridden, that she required attendance round the clock and was given food through a tube inserted into the stomach through the nose (nasogastrically). He further deposed that the bills of his hospital, totalling Rs.58,157.69 including for purchase of medicines, were paid. These bills were marked in evidence. He also deposed that he had recommended that she undergo a stem-cell transplant of the cervical spine and that this is an expensive surgery that costs Rs.10 to 15 lakhs. Importantly, he also deposed that she require a minimum monthly expenditure for her treatment of Rs.10,257/- and there are practically no chances of any improvement in her condition. In addition she needs chest physiotherapy daily, at a cost of Rs.250/- to Rs.300/- per day; her medicine costs, in his estimation, would be in range of Rs.3,000/- to Rs.4,000/- per month; and diapers, hand gloves, catheters etc. would cost more. Once again, this witness was not cross-examined at all.

Quadriplegia is a paralysis of the body from neck downward. Such a person is wholly dependent on extra and additional items of medical and personal care as he or she is quite unable to attend to her even most daily basic functions. There is no doubt that the claimant is going to incur ongoing medical expenses, including for water beds to prevent bedsores, catheters, feeding tubes, diapers, hand gloves etc. The MACT arrived at its award of Rs.22 lakhs taking into account her need for 24-hour attention and care, medication and routine monthly expenses. In arriving at this figure, there is an element of guess work. The MACT took into account the claimant's age and applied the multiplier of 18.