Ombudsman for settling medical negligence disputes proposed

BHUBANESWAR: The Citizens Apex Association (CAA), a city-based citizen forum, has proposed the Government to appoint an Ombudsman each for settling disputes relating to medical negligence, deaths due to hanging high tension live-wire cables and for settling client lawyer disputes in the State.

CAA president NK Panda urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to help in adding three more institutions only one at public expense to mitigate the hardship of the public and contribute to their welfare. He said the deaths due to negligence of medical officers and staff is increasing day by day. In such cases, compensation depends on a number of variable factors including public outrage.

On the issue of deaths due to hanging high tension live-wire cables, Panda said the high tension open line cables have resulted in a number of deaths of human beings, elephants and other animals. There is no system yet for laying down uniform standards of compensation and their enforcement, he added. 

The association has also suggested that the Medical Council of India may appoint an Ombudsman in each State to receive complaints from the public, to inquire and asses the position and to decide on compensation to the patients in proportion to the damaged caused, or death.

The CAA has also requested the Odisha High Court Bar Association at Cuttack to raise the issue to set up an Ombudsman in each State and at the Centre to receive complaints against members of the Bar, asses the situation and take the effective steps to assuage the hurt feelings of the client and to fulfill the needs in regard to the case is concerned.