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This is an archive article published on November 30, 2023

20 years after Jharkhand patient’s death, national consumer court finds medical negligence by Ranchi doctors

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission awards Rs 10 lakh damages to deceased patient’s mother.

doctorExpert opinions from Dr G S Vats and Dr Samir Rai supported the claim of medical negligence, emphasizing on the failure to diagnose acute pancreatitis despite the ultrasound report pointing it out clearly. (Representational image/File)
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20 years after Jharkhand patient’s death, national consumer court finds medical negligence by Ranchi doctors
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The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDC) has recently found medical negligence on the part of doctors in Ranchi, Jharkhand, which resulted in a patient’s death in 2003.

The Commission awarded Rs 10 lakh compensation to the complainant (the patient’s mother) in this case after it held that the doctors did not provide him treatment despite his ultrasound report showing he had acute pancreatitis.

“Dr D. Mohan, the attending doctor, did not initially examine the patient and only did so on 07.03.2003, at 11:30 am, relying on partial information from the ultrasound report, which led to a misdiagnosis….even after identifying pancreatitis, no treatment was provided during the patient’s hospitalization,” noted the NCDRC while setting aside the 2018 order of a state commission.

Maya Sharma, the mother of the deceased Navin Sharma, had filed a revision petition against the Jharkhand state commission.

Sharma was admitted to Raj Hospital in Ranchi in 2003 with abdominal pain and vomiting. Subsequent examinations and tests which the doctors conducted, including an ultrasound indicating pancreatitis, were allegedly not appropriately addressed. His condition deteriorated and he died.

Maya alleged that the doctor ignored a crucial part of the ultrasound report which indicated ‘ascites minimal pleural effusion’ in which excess fluid accumulates between the lungs and the ribs – which is an indicator of acute pancreatitis.

Expert opinions from Dr G S Vats and Dr Samir Rai supported the claim of medical negligence, emphasizing on the failure to diagnose acute pancreatitis despite the ultrasound report pointing it out clearly.

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Acute pancreatitis in which the pancreas becomes swollen has a 20 per cent mortality rate. This fact was used by the doctors in their defence. They argued that despite their best efforts, the patient could not be saved, and there was no negligence.

The hospital further added that the expert opinions of doctor Vats and Rai do not indicate any departure from professional standards or a misalignment in the treatment plan.

Nirbhay Thakur is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express who primarily covers district courts in Delhi and has reported on the trials of many high-profile cases since 2023. Professional Background Education: Nirbhay is an economics graduate from Delhi University. Beats: His reporting spans the trial courts, and he occasionally interviews ambassadors and has a keen interest in doing data stories. Specializations: He has a specific interest in data stories related to courts. Core Strength: Nirbhay is known for tracking long-running legal sagas and providing meticulous updates on high-profile criminal trials. Recent notable articles In 2025, he has written long form articles and two investigations. Along with breaking many court stories, he has also done various exclusive stories. 1) A long form on Surender Koli, accused in the Nithari serial killings of 2006. He was acquitted after spending 2 decades in jail. was a branded man. Deemed the “cannibal" who allegedly lured children to his employer’s house in Noida, murdered them, and “ate their flesh” – his actions cited were cited as evidence of human depravity at its worst. However, the SC acquitted him finding various lapses in the investigation. The Indian Express spoke to his lawyers and traced the 2 decades journey.  2) For decades, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has been at the forefront of the Government’s national rankings, placed at No. 2 over the past two years alone. It has also been the crucible of campus activism, its protests often spilling into national debates, its student leaders going on to become the faces and voices of political parties of all hues and thoughts. The Indian Express looked at all court cases spanning over two decades and did an investigation. 3) Investigation on the 700 Delhi riots cases. The Indian Express found that in 17 of 93 acquittals (which amounted to 85% of the decided cases) in Delhi riots cases, courts red-flag ‘fabricated’ evidence and pulled up the police. Signature Style Nirbhay’s writing is characterized by its procedural depth. He excels at summarizing 400-page chargesheets and complex court orders into digestible news for the general public. X (Twitter): @Nirbhaya99 ... Read More

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