India: A Hospital in West Delhi has been fined Rs.1.5 crore in a 15-year-old case when an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) process was performed on a woman using sperm that did not belong to her husband. The husband approached the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) after finding out about the negligence.

The court, hearing the parents’ plea, directed Bhatia Global Hospital and Endosurgery Institute, its chairman and director to collectively pay Rs.1 crore to the family.

They have also been ordered to deposit an additional Rs 20 lakh in the NCDRC’s consumer assistance fund.

Three people, including doctors from the hospital involved in the case, have been ordered to pay Rs.10 lakh each to the complainants.

The court has given six weeks for the payment to be made, and said that if the complainants do not receive the amount within this time frame, an eight per cent annual interest will be imposed as penalty.

Additionally, the court directed that a fixed deposit of nearly Rs.1.5 crore be made for the twins, with each child being entitled to half the amount.

In 2008-2009, the woman who underwent the IVF procedure got her DNA profile tested. The report revealed that one of the twins had an AB+ blood group, while the blood groups of the parents were B positive and O negative.

The report proved that the IVF intracytoplasmic sperm injection was negligently carried out.

The father demanded compensation of Rs.2 crore from the hospital, citing both mental and genetic anguish caused to him, his children, and his family.