Woman develops rare life-threatening skin disorder after taking painkiller: Doctor ordered to pay Rs 5.5 lakh compensation

A Raipur consumer commission has ordered a neurologist to pay Rs 5.5 lakh to a woman who developed a rare and life-threatening skin disorder after he prescribed her a painkiller without checking her allergy history or warning her about the risks.

The commission found the doctor guilty of medical negligence and deficiency in service, holding that his failure to take a thorough patient history before prescribing a high-risk drug directly caused a condition that left the complainant hospitalised for nearly two weeks and unable to work for 40 days.

A routine visit that went very wrong


The woman, a 32-year-old officer at a cement plant in Chhattisgarh, visited the neurologist at his Raipur clinic on 10 September 2024 for neck pain. He reviewed her MRI scan, which showed cervical spondylosis with disc bulging at two levels, and prescribed a combination of Etoricoxib and Thiocolchicoside, a potent painkiller commonly used for nerve and musculoskeletal pain.

She paid a consultation fee, collected her prescription, and went home.

Within two days, her condition began to deteriorate sharply.

Blisters, burning, and unanswered calls

By 12 September, she had developed severe itching and skin peeling in her genital area. The next day, rashes appeared on her feet and her lips began to ulcerate and swell. She tried to reach the doctor by phone but alleged he did not respond.

When she eventually got to him in person, he charged her again, acknowledged the medication had likely caused the reaction, stopped the painkiller, and prescribed a substitute. The condition did not improve.

By 17 September, he referred her to a gynaecologist. That treatment also brought no relief.

A day later, the lesions had spread across her chest, back, and limbs. She was admitted to a hospital in Raipur on 19 September 2024 and remained there until 1 October 2024.

What the hospital found

Doctors at the hospital diagnosed her with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, a severe and potentially fatal adverse drug reaction in which the skin and mucous membranes blister and peel away in sheets. The condition is known to be triggered by certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the class the neurologist had prescribed.

Her hospital bill came to Rs 1,60,378. The 40 days of unpaid leave she was forced to take cost her Rs 87,000 in lost income.

What is Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

The commission took care to explain the condition on record.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a rare, severe disorder affecting the skin and mucous membranes. It is most commonly triggered by certain medications, including NSAIDs and painkillers. It causes extensive blistering, painful skin detachment, and ulceration of the mouth, throat, eyes, and genitalia. The commission described it as an extreme medical emergency.

Photographs submitted as evidence documented the full extent of physical damage to her body.

What the commission decided

The commission, presided over by President Prashant Kundu and Member Dr. Anand Varghese, found that the neurologist had prescribed a high-risk drug without taking a proper patient history, without asking about prior drug allergies, and without warning her of the possibility of severe adverse reactions.

It held that a patient places implicit trust in their doctor, and that prescribing an aggressive medication without proper counselling constitutes medical negligence.

The gynaecologist to whom the patient was referred was exonerated. The commission found no negligence established against her.

What the court ordered

The neurologist has been directed to pay the following within 45 days: Rs 1,40,534 towards hospitalisation and treatment expenses, Rs 4,00,000 as compensation for physical, mental, and financial suffering, and Rs 10,000 towards litigation costs, bringing the total to Rs 5,50,534.

If payment is not made within 45 days, the entire amount will carry interest at 7 per cent per annum from the date of the order until full payment is made.