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Consumer Protection Act and Medical Profession
The Background
The best way to come directly to the issue would be to know about the rights of the consumer. The eight rights as defined by the International Organization of Consumers’ Union ( IOCU) are as follows :
THE CONSUMER RIGHTS
1. The Right to Safety
Which means the right to be protected against products, production processes and services which are hazardous to health or life. The right to safety has been broadened to include the concern for consumers’ long-term interests, not only their immediate desires.
2. The Right to be Informed
Which means the right to be given the facts needed to make an informed choice or decision. The right to be informed now goes beyond avoiding deception and the protection against misleading advertising, labelling or other practices. Consumers should be provided with adequate information, enabling them to act wisely and responsibly.
3. The Right to Choose
Which means the right to have access to a variety of products and services at competitive prices and in the case of monopolies, to have an assurance of satisfactory quality and service at a fair price. The right to choose has been reformulated to read : the right to basic goods and services. This is because the unrestrained right of a minority to choose can mean for the majority a denial of its fair share.
4. The Right to be Heard
Which means the right to be represented so that consumers’interest receive full and sympathetic consideration in the formulation and execution of economic policy. This right is being broadened to include the right to be heard and represented in the development of products and services before they are produced or set up; it also implies a representation, not only in government policies, but also in those of other economic powers.
5. The Right to Redress
Which means the right to a fair settlement of just claims. This right has been generally accepted since the early 1970s. It involves the right to receive compensation for misrepresentation or shoddy goods or services, and where needed, free legal aid or an accepted form of redress for small claims should be available.
6. The Right to Consumer Education
Which means the right to acquire the knowledge and skills to be an informed consumer throughout life. The right to consumer education incorporates the right to the knowledge and skills needed for taking action to influence factors which affect consumer decisions.
7. The Right to a Healthy Environment
Which means the right to a physical environment that will enhance the quality of life. This right involves protection against environmental problems over which the individual consumer has control. It acknowledges the need to protect and improve the environment for present and future generations.
8. The Right to Basic Needs
The right to basic needs means that availability of articles which are the basic need of every consumer must be ensured.15th March is celebrated as World Consumer Rights Day. On this day in 1962, President J.F. Kennedy declared four consumer rights ( No.1 to 4 ) in the special message to the American Congress. Consumer rights number 5 to 8 were subsequently added by IOCU.
Govt. of India also included the above rights in its Twenty-Point Programme. The Consumer Rights No. 1 to 6 are also enshrined in our Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
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Careers
I was appointed to run a clinic from a hospital facility. The management one day suddenly closed the premises, with all my belongings trapped inside, without giving me any notice. The treatment of many patients was under way and they feel lost. I have complained to police for cognizable offences and also written to the state medical bodies highlighting the manner in which the premises was shut down in my absence. Are any clauses of medical act violated in this sudden and unannounced closure of a medical facility? Dr K G
I have booked two tickets under PNR no. 4408538575, for travelling from bangalore to delhi by 12213 duranto express on 27-06-2015. But on 23-06-2015 i have received a message regarding cancellation of train, then i called railway enquiry no. 139 in this regard and they told that train cancellation can only be confirmed on 27-06-2015 morning and also advised that i have not to cancel the ticket now but after departure time of the train i have to file the TDR online through irctc website. But when i open the site next day the ticket cancellation option said that it is too late too be cancelled and TDR option said that TDR can only be filled after charting and departure. So I could not cancel my tickets and contact the irctc helpline 011- 39340000 and they told to send an email in this regard on [email protected] and they issue me a Ticket No. 1686501, But they also refused the return on 12/07/2015 by saying that I have filled the TDR very late on 03/07/2015, which had to be filled within 72 hours of train departure time. As I have said earlier wihen I make cancellation of ticket irctc website refuse it and when I file TDR irctc site told that TDR can only be file after charting done and departure of train, no other method is describe there. The method of sending email is only come to know by me when I contacted irctc helpline. This is duty of Railway and Irctc to let the passenger know about the refund procedure in case of cancellation of train. So I want back all my money which is Rs.5636.17/- as train is cancelled by railway itself.
I need suggestion regarding the doctors bill. Doctor is giving me bill for 17000 for 3 day for my wife's treatment. She was not admitted to the clinic, just for three days doctor given her 2 bottle of saline everyday. Doctor is having clinic not the hospital. Can you suggest what can i do?
I want to complain against shiv medicos in H block ashok vihar for not giving proper bills for medicines purchased and also not verifying or asking for any prescription and seselling medicines without prescriptions...
This letter is with reference to the wrong or unwanted medical procedure and hiding the truth regarding my health. Dr. S.Selvamani, Senior Consultant and Interventional cardiologist [ Reg. No: 36009] done procedures like TPI CAG Successful PTCA with BVS (Bio Resorbable Vascular Scaffold) to RCA done on 18-19-2013. I was discharged on 28/09/2013 with the discharge summary as General Condition is GOOD and I thought that I had a single vessel block and that it was cleared by PTCA method and I can continue a normal life. After Discharge,( since the hospital is around 250 Km away from my home town ) I went to another cardiologist in my home town , He took ECHO and stated the extra points like Dialated LA/LV , Grade 3 Diastolic Dysfunction , Moderate PAH , Sclerotic aortic value and minimal effusion behind inferolateral wall , moderate to severe MR, posteriorly directed wall hugging jet ( MR dp/dt 982) and the Global EF is 33 % although Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre, Madurai took ECHO they didn't reveled the above points in their discharge sheet and the cardiologist Dr.S.Selvamani ,didn't prescribed the medicines which will improve the EF % . Now I am taking T.Planeb, T.Cardarone and T. Cardace to improve the condition of the heart prescribed by an another cardiologist to improve the pumping capacity of the heart, which was failed by Dr. S. Selvamani. So I suspect that Dr. S. Selvamani didn't diagnosed or gave importance to the pumping capacity of my heart and he did wrong or unwanted procedure like PTCA and temporary pace maker installation. Dr. S. Selvamani, procedures makes me to spend around Rs.4,50,000 ( Rupees Four lacs and fifty Thousand ) at Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre, Madurai and now I am spending more money on review and other lab and ECHO procedures to improve the EF% of my heart. I strongly believe that I have been treated wrong / unwanted procedures at Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre, Madurai by Dr. S.Selvamani. I am ready to submit any medical documents and willing to go any more procedures to prove that I had been treated at Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre, Madurai in unwanted or neglected medical procedures.