Stories
Motherhood Hospital Fined Rs 60,000 for Cockroaches, Flies in Premium Maternity Suite
- •A couple paid Rs 1.4 lakh for a premium maternity suite at Motherhood Hospital, Pune, but found cockroaches and houseflies, including on their food and breast pump.
- •The III Additional Bengaluru Urban District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ordered Motherhood Hospital to pay Rs 50,000 for mental agony and Rs 10,000 for litigation expenses, totaling Rs 60,000.
- •The couple, Shweta Pratap Jadhav and Anand Dubey, presented video evidence of pests, which the hospital did not dispute.
- •The commission found the hospital deficient in service for failing to maintain hygienic conditions, a fundamental responsibility for a maternity hospital.
- •Despite the hygiene issues, the commission did not order a refund of the suite charges, noting that the mother and child received adequate medical treatment and had no health complications.
Key Questions Answered
The III Additional Bengaluru Urban District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission held the hospital responsible for a deficiency in service after a couple found cockroaches and houseflies in their premium maternity suite. The hospital was directed to pay Rs 50,000 for mental agony and Rs 10,000 for litigation expenses.
The couple presented a pen drive containing video recordings of cockroaches inside the suite. The hospital did not dispute the authenticity or existence of these video recordings during the proceedings.
No, the consumer forum did not direct the hospital to return the amount paid for the suite. It noted that the mother and child received adequate medical treatment and that no health complications were reported during their stay.
