MAPUSA
A customer who suffered grievous bodily injuries in a laser hair removal treatment that went wrong, won a case against a Panaji-based cosmetic clinic in a consumer court.
The Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, North Goa, directed the clinic to pay Rs 1 lakh towards physical discomfort and negligence of the doctors and staff and awarded another Rs 1 lakh compensation towards mental trauma and torture suffered by the customer. The forum also directed the clinic to refund Rs 65,000 paid to it by the complainant for the botched up procedure and ordered it to pay another Rs 50,000 towards his medical expenses.
In December 2013, the customer from Assolna had approached the clinic and struck a deal to remove unwanted hair on his back and chest by laser hair removal treatment for Rs 65,000.
But within two days after first session of the treatment, the complainant developed red colour boils on his chest and back, accompanied with severe itching sensation.
During the second session, he brought it to the notice of the clinic in-charge, but was informed that it was normal effect of laser therapy and the same would subside within two days. Days after the second session, the customer's condition deteriorated and he began experiencing body aches and even developed high fever, due to which he had to be admitted to Grace Cardiac Clinic, Margao.
From there he was shifted to Goa Medical College and Hospital in a critical condition. He was discharged from GMC after undergoing treatment for more than a month.
The customer then approached the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum seeking adequate relief for deficiency of service and negligence.
The Consumer Forum President, S Vales and members, Varsha Bale and A De Oliveira, observed that the scars on the complainant's back and chest clearly showed that he suffered burn marks and wounds due to the negligence of the staff in the clinic while providing the laser therapy.
"The treatment was carried out without conducting any test preceding the final laser treatment, to find out whether any reaction takes place on the complainant's body, thereby causing grievous bodily injuries to the complainant, which is a gross negligence on the part of the clinic," the forum observed.
The forum also observed that the clinic had failed to provide licences from the health department or from the food and drugs administration to operate the laser treatment. "It is clear the owner/manager was illegally operating the Looks Cosmetic Clinic and providing harmful treatments to people," the forum observed.
The forum then directed the Looks Cosmetic Clinic, located on 18th June Road, Panaji, to pay the complainant Rs 1 lakh as compensation towards physical discomfort and negligence of the doctors and staffs and another Rs 1 lakh towards mental trauma and torture.
The clinic was also directed to refund to the complainant Rs 65,000 charged for the procedure and another Rs 50,000 for his medical expenses.
A customer who suffered grievous bodily injuries in a laser hair removal treatment that went wrong, won a case against a Panaji-based cosmetic clinic in a consumer court.
The Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, North Goa, directed the clinic to pay Rs 1 lakh towards physical discomfort and negligence of the doctors and staff and awarded another Rs 1 lakh compensation towards mental trauma and torture suffered by the customer. The forum also directed the clinic to refund Rs 65,000 paid to it by the complainant for the botched up procedure and ordered it to pay another Rs 50,000 towards his medical expenses.
In December 2013, the customer from Assolna had approached the clinic and struck a deal to remove unwanted hair on his back and chest by laser hair removal treatment for Rs 65,000.
But within two days after first session of the treatment, the complainant developed red colour boils on his chest and back, accompanied with severe itching sensation.
During the second session, he brought it to the notice of the clinic in-charge, but was informed that it was normal effect of laser therapy and the same would subside within two days. Days after the second session, the customer's condition deteriorated and he began experiencing body aches and even developed high fever, due to which he had to be admitted to Grace Cardiac Clinic, Margao.
From there he was shifted to Goa Medical College and Hospital in a critical condition. He was discharged from GMC after undergoing treatment for more than a month.
The customer then approached the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum seeking adequate relief for deficiency of service and negligence.
The Consumer Forum President, S Vales and members, Varsha Bale and A De Oliveira, observed that the scars on the complainant's back and chest clearly showed that he suffered burn marks and wounds due to the negligence of the staff in the clinic while providing the laser therapy.
"The treatment was carried out without conducting any test preceding the final laser treatment, to find out whether any reaction takes place on the complainant's body, thereby causing grievous bodily injuries to the complainant, which is a gross negligence on the part of the clinic," the forum observed.
The forum also observed that the clinic had failed to provide licences from the health department or from the food and drugs administration to operate the laser treatment. "It is clear the owner/manager was illegally operating the Looks Cosmetic Clinic and providing harmful treatments to people," the forum observed.
The forum then directed the Looks Cosmetic Clinic, located on 18th June Road, Panaji, to pay the complainant Rs 1 lakh as compensation towards physical discomfort and negligence of the doctors and staffs and another Rs 1 lakh towards mental trauma and torture.
The clinic was also directed to refund to the complainant Rs 65,000 charged for the procedure and another Rs 50,000 for his medical expenses.
