A Chandigar-based doctor, who lost his speech after a botched-up operation by All India Institute of Medical Sciences six years ago, has been awarded a compensation of Rs one lakh by the Delhi Consumer Commission.

Holding the capital's premier medical facility guilty of gross medical negligence, the Commission presided by Justice
J D Kapoor said that the medical reports adduced by Doctor J S Bedi and other facts had established the slackness of its doctor during his operation and post-operative care.

Bedi was operated in All India Institute of Medical Sciences on August 22, 2001, for removal of a tumor, but to his utter shock, he was rendered unable to speak following the surgery, the complaint had alleged.

Calling the symptom usual, the doctor assured that he would regain his voice after a few days. But in a subsequent test, Bedi was told that a nerve was cut during the surgery and a post-operative negligence in treating the same had led to paralysis of the nerve and diaphragm, he claimed.

He approached the Commission accusing AIIMS of medical negligence and sought damages for his physical discomfort, mental agony and medication.

The Commission, also comprising member Rumnita Mittal, found substance in Bedi's allegations and said, "The hospital
was deficient first in cutting his left phrenic nerve negligently while excising thyma mass as this could have been
avoided."

Lending credence to various medical reports, it further found the doctor treating him of being negligent for leaving
the nerve without stimulating or suturing its end which caused paralysis of the diaphragm and the nerve, making Bedi lose his power to speak.

The Commission has now ordered AIIMS to pay Rs 1 lakh in compensation to Bedi, who is still undergoing speech therapy for regaining his voice.