MOHALI, Aug 3–The district consumer disputes redressal commission has directed Fortis Hospital, Mohali to pay ₹50 lakh as compensation to the family of Harit Sharma, a Punjab and Haryana high court advocate who died allegedly due to medical negligence in 2021.
The panel found the hospital guilty of gross medical negligence, deficiency in service, and unfair trade practices, calling the incident a serious failure in patient care.
A critical piece of evidence in the case was Sharma’s dying declaration, scribbled from his ICU bed, in which he wrote that he overheard doctors admitting his treatment was mishandled. “Subah director had come. Director said Chabra has done wrong tapping. It will be done again,” the note read.
“This note established internal acknowledgment of medical error,” the commission said, ordering a lump sum compensation of ₹50 lakh to Sharma’s widow, Priyanka Sharma, and their two minor sons.
Sharma was admitted to Fortis on July 28, 2021, for acute gastric issues and was treated by Dr Mohnish Chabra and other attending doctors. Though he initially showed improvement and requested to be moved from the ICU to a private ward, doctors kept him in the ICU citing ascites, a condition involving fluid buildup in the abdomen.
The family alleged that the tapping procedure to remove the fluid was performed negligently, leading to a severe drop in oxygen levels. Sharma had to be placed on oxygen support. Despite his condition, he remained alert and communicated the mishandling to his wife through a written note.
The hospital has yet to formally respond to the verdict. A Fortis spokesperson said: “We are aware of a consumer case. As we have not yet received the official order, we are unable to comment further. Once we do, we will review it thoroughly and take action as advised by our legal team.”
