PHILIPS INDIA LTD Vs. KUNJU PUNNU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The above first appeals raise an important question of the liability of a medical consultant of company in tort. They are directed against the Judgment and decree passed by the Joint Civil Judge, Senior Division, Poona on April 30, 1965 ordering defendant No.1 Philips India Ltd,, and defendant No.2, Dr. Shaikh Suleman, a medical practitioner of Poona, to pay to the plaintiff-respondent No.1 Kunju Punnu the mother of the deceased employee of defendant No.1 Rs. 18,000/- together with costs of the suit and future interest on that amount at the rate of 6 percent, per annum till satisfaction.

(2.) The allegations made in the plaint presented in forma pauperis by Kunju Punnu on July 11, 1962 and registered as Special Civil Suit No. 31 of 1963. can be briefly summarised as under:-

(3.) The plaintiff's son, V.K. Gopal was an employee of defendant No.1 company on a monthly salary of Rs.105/- as a machine operator. Defendant No.2 is the Medical Officer and Adviser of defendant No.1 company. Defendant No.2 as the Medical Officer and Adviser of defendant No.1 company. Defendant No.2 as the Medical Officer of the Company had to treat the patients of defendant No.1 company free of charge. On December 20, 1961 the plaintiffs son, Gopal fell ill suddenly, while he was working in defendant No.1's factory at Loni kalbhor. Defendant No.2 treated and advised him to take leave for two days without making a proper diagnosis of the disease from which Gopal was suffering. It was alleged that although the deceased Gopal was suffering from smallpox, defendant No.2 carelessly treated him as a patient suffering from venereal disease, notwithstanding that Shankar, the brother of the deceased, told defendant No.2 that Gopal was not suffering from venereal disease, notwithstanding that Shankar, the brother of the deceased, told defendant No.2 that Gopal was not suffering from any venereal disease. Shankar, who was the driver in the service of the General Manager of the company, told the General Manager assured that he would tell defendant No.2 to give proper treatment, he failed to tell defendant No.2 anything of that kind. It is further alleged that as a result of this wrong and negligent treatment and cold. Even then, he was asked by defendant No.2 to work in the factory and he worked on December 22, 1961. As his temperature increased, he could not continue working. He went to defendant No.2 asked his advice. Defendant No.2 advised him to take another two days leave and Gopal continued to be under the treatment of defendant No.2 though Gopal was not suffering from venereal disease. Defendant No.2 gave very strong treatment and this made the patient worse. Then defendant No.2 got him admitted in his dispensary on December 25, 1961 at about 11.30 a.m. kept him there for about 24 hours, but continued to treat him very negligently and carelessly on the basis that Gopal was suffering from venereal decease. Gopal became serious Defendant No.2 sent him to Dr. Grant's Nursing Home. It was, however too late and Dr. Grant finding that it was a case of smallpox, sent Gopal to the infectious disease hospital, where Gopal died on December 31, 1961. It was, therefore, submitted by the plaintiff that her son Gopal died on account of gross and culpable negligence and wrong treatment given by defendant No.2 and thereby the plaintiff was required to suffer a heavy loss amounting to Rs.25,000/- which defendant No.1 was liable to pay as the employer of defendant No.2. The plaintiff further claimed damages, in addition to Rs.25,000/-, of Rs.795/-, the amount which the plaintiff was required to pay to Dr. Grant and his Nursing Home, and Rs.222.51p., the amount which she had to spend for purchasing medicines and injections, and remitting Rs. 17.51 p. she claimed in the suit Rs.26,000/-.