The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered Saveetha Dental College and Hospital and Saveetha Medical College and Hospital to pay Rs 7.1 lakh to a Chennai resident after a dental instrument slipped into her husband's digestive tract during a root canal procedure in August 2025.
Incident Details
The complaint was filed by Sukanya on behalf of her husband, D Arunkumar, who underwent a root canal procedure on August 1, 2025, at Saveetha Dental Hospital. During the procedure, a sharp K-file with holder allegedly slipped into his digestive tract after doctors failed to use a rubber dam, a mandatory protective device during such procedures. An emergency endoscopy was performed on the patient at the same hospital. The complainant also alleged that the procedure was carried out without proper consent, adequate anaesthesia, or informing family members, stated the order.
Aftermath and Suffering
Despite multiple scans and medical interventions, the object could not be retrieved immediately and passed naturally only after three days. During this period, Arunkumar suffered severe pain, sleeplessness, and humiliation. The commission observed that the very nature of the incident established negligence, and that the hospitals failed to adopt standard precautions, obtain informed consent, provide adequate post-incident care, and furnish complete medical records despite repeated requests.
Compensation Ordered
The commission directed the hospitals to pay Rs 5 lakh as compensation for medical negligence, Rs 2 lakh as punitive damages towards future medical care, and Rs 10,000 towards litigation costs. The ruling serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to safety protocols and obtaining informed consent in medical procedures.
