Delhi Commission Upholds Ruling Against Dr Lal Pathlabs for Faulty Report

The Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has validated claims against Dr Lal Pathlabs for providing a faulty lab report that led to unnecessary emergency hospitalisation for a patient. The commission confirmed that the lab was deficient in service and ordered it to pay a compensation of Rs 3.5 lakh.

Commission President Sangita Dhingra Sehgal and judicial member Pinki rejected the lab's appeal against the August 2014 district forum's order. They pointed out that when a patient's report shows dangerously high urea levels, it cannot be dismissed as a simple error. The lab's efforts to shift the blame to prescribing physicians or the patient's medical history were also dismissed.

The commission emphasized that multiple corroborating test reports from other reputable labs indicated a significant discrepancy, reinforcing the presumption of service deficiency by Dr Lal Pathlabs. Thus, the panel affirmed the district commission's view that the lab failed to maintain the expected standard of care, leading to undue psychological trauma for the patient.

(With inputs from agencies.)