Fortis case: Paswan says family should approach consumer court for adequate compensation

Amid allegations that Gurgaon's Fortis Hospital overcharged the family of a 7-year-old girl who died of dengue, Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan today said her parents should approach consumer court for adequate compensation.

"Consumer court is there for their protection. The parents should approach consumer court which will ensure that they get compensated," the consumer affairs minister told reporters here.

The case relates to the death in September of a 7-year- old girl who was admitted with dengue to the Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI), Gurgaon, a multi super-speciality care hospital.

The hospital billed her family almost Rs 16 lakh. However, it had refuted the charges, claiming the patient's family was informed about the bill on a daily basis and that there was no medical negligence.

The Haryana government had yesterday ordered a probe into the allegations after the Centre had asked it to initiate an urgent inquiry into the case.

State Health Minister Anil Vij had said a senior officer would investigate the case.