Doctor Cut Lip While Giving Treatment, Court Ordered To Pay Compensation

During orthodontic treatment, a dentist accidentally cut a Bengaluru woman’s lips, resulting in injury. Subsequently, another doctor performed plastic surgery and administered five stitches to the woman. Shocked by the incident, she filed a case against the dentist in the consumer court. The court held the dentist responsible for displaying careless and unprofessional behavior towards the patient and ordered them to pay Rs 60,000 as compensation. On the evening of June 13, 2020, a 32-year-old woman from Ramamurthynagar visited Sure Smile Dental Care in Horamav. She sought treatment from Vinod Pattabhiraman, an orthodontist whom she had known previously. While performing orthodontic procedures on the woman’s front teeth, an accidental cut occurred on her upper lip due to the use of a dental blade. The woman sustained a significant bleeding wound on her lip. Disturbed by the injury, she requested a mirror from the dentist to assess the damage. However, the dentist denied her request, dismissing it as a minor injury, and sent her home with a bandage. The treatment fee paid was reportedly five thousand rupees. Upon arriving home, the woman was shocked to discover the severity of the cut on her lip, as the bleeding persisted. Consequently, she sought medical attention at another hospital, where a doctor promptly assessed her condition and advised immediate placement of five stitches. The woman underwent the required treatment and subsequently returned home. The woman’s husband later visited the original dentist to explain the situation, but the dentist refused to acknowledge any fault. Two days later, when the woman removed the bandage, she discovered a noticeable scar extending from her lip to her nose.