Thiruvananthapuram: The state human rights commission has ruled, in line with Supreme Court guidelines, that a criminal case can be registered against a private hospital only if an expert medical panel establishes that negligence has occurred.Commission chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas observed that if a patient has not received adequate or timely medical services from a private hospital, the complainant may instead seek relief through a civil court or a consumer forum constituted under the Consumer Protection Act.The order was issued on a complaint filed by V Ashok Kumar from Kudappanakunnu in Thiruvananthapuram, alleging that his 24-year-old son, Aravind, who was admitted to a private hospital at Sasthamangalam on Jan 30, 2025, with a cardiac ailment, did not receive adequate treatment.The commission directed the district medical officer (DMO) to constitute an expert panel to investigate the allegations. The DMO appointed Dr Sandeep and Dr S R Arun, cardiologists at Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital, to carry out the inquiry.The expert committee reported that it could not conclusively establish medical negligence. However, it found that there had been a delay in recognising the patient’s cardiac condition despite his complaints of heart-related symptoms. The panel noted that although Troponin-T and ECG tests were planned, the patient’s symptoms were not promptly assessed and appropriate treatment was delayed.According to the committee, the patient had suffered an acute myocardial infarction, but timely treatment was not provided. The commission directed the DMO to furnish the complainant with copies of the expert panel’s report, relevant records and witness statements.
