Petition for Moral Support to a Paralyzed Senior Citizen

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I, a paralyzed senior citizen, was admitted to Apollo Hospital, Seshadripuram, Bangalore, on June 20, 2024, where I encountered highly unusual and distressing experiences. This petition seeks your moral support in my fight against the inhuman practices of a multinational hospital.

What Actually Happened?
I urgently needed treatment for a prostate condition and was researching qualified doctors and suitable hospitals for the procedure. During this time, I contacted Apollo Hospital’s CEO, Mr. Uday Davda, who recommended a new procedure called “Water Vapour Therapy (Rezum).” Encouraged by his assurance, I visited the hospital as my urinary flow had been severely affected.

The hospital estimated an exorbitant cost of ₹5,70,000/- (Five Lakhs Seventy Thousand Rupees) for what they termed an "operation," which I later discovered was merely a procedure.

As I had comprehensive health insurance with a cashless Mediclaim facility for the higher value, I was informed by the CEO that due to some price negotiations with third-party administrators (TPAs), the cashless option was not available. However, he assured me verbally that I could claim reimbursement after paying the full amount upfront. Trusting this verbal guarantee, I proceeded with the treatment. Unfortunately, I later learned that this promise was false and was a tactic to exploit my urgency.

The hospital and its administrative staff conveniently withheld the fact that Apollo Hospital is listed as "Excluded" by the insurance companies. Consequently, my insurance claim was rejected, except for pharmacy expenses, and I received only ₹1,35,749/- out of my total claim of ₹5,92,000/-. Room rent, professional fees, investigations, OT-related charges, and other costs were entirely denied. For the hospital being listed as "Excluded" essentially means for a common man to understand as Blacklisted by the insurance companies. 

Substandard Medical Care

1. The highly qualified Urosurgeon, Dr. T. Manohar, who was supposed to perform the procedure, was absent from the operation theater. Instead, three other doctors performed the procedure as part of their training, making me an experimental subject.
2. Neither the doctors nor the OT staff wore proper surgical gowns or facial masks, leading to a severe urinary tract infection. This condition took over a month to recover from, with the catheter fixed to my urinary tract constantly filled with blood. Additionally the catheter was tied on my Paralyzed leg so tight that my leg was injured and lot of Pus was developed. So I had a hospital given infection Pus formation..! What more I can write for such inhuman careless working.
3. Being a two-time Brain stroke patient for the past 10 years, the hospital doctors assured me that only local anesthesia would be used during the procedure. However, to my shock, they administered general anesthesia without my consent. When I questioned the doctor about it during the procedure, I was falsely told it was "just an oxygen mask."

• The effects of the general anesthesia were devastating. It negated 10 years of physiotherapy, leaving me unable to walk and severely diminishing my body strength. My hard-earned physiotherapy progress was undone in an instant. So now I need 3 attendars to carry me to the toilet.

Despite my fragile state, I was discharged after just one night of hospitalization, in a condition more worse than when I was admitted.

Malpractice in Billing

• While in my room, I received an SMS from the hospital, I was instructed to collect the refund of ₹1,52,354/-, along with discharge summary, gate pass, and other documents from the counter (Bill No. INT1143147, dated June 20, 2024).
• However, within 10 minutes of my colleague visiting the counter, the bill was changed to ₹5,69,997/-, requiring an additional demand of payment.
• When I wanted to personally understand this discrepancy, from the cash counter two men entered my room with a card-swiping machine, pressuring me to pay immediately. Please remember, I am a paralyzed senior citizen.
• Despite my repeated efforts to contact the CEO, Mr. Uday Davda, he remained unreachable. I can only assume he was busy attending to another scapegoat patient.

With no other option, I paid the demanded amount ₹1,20,000/- and was discharged in the same paralyzed condition, still attached to a catheter filled with blood.

Negligence from Leadership

From the beginning, I was not provided copies of the cost estimation or other relevant documents, despite my colleague repeatedly requesting them. Due to the urgency of my condition, he could not afford to waste time arguing with the administrative staff.

Even after the incident, I reached out to the CEO, Mr. Uday Davda, and the corporate managing director, Mrs. Suneeta Reddy, via email. However, neither responded, likely to avoid leaving any documentary evidence of their malpractice.

My Attitude

Throughout this ordeal, I remained friendly and respectful toward the hospital staff, maintaining my composure despite the circumstances. 

My Humble Request

I request your support to boost my morale and fighting spirit as I continue this battle at the age of 66. I am not seeking compensation for the damages to my body but only the reimbursement of ₹4,56,117/-, which was rejected by the insurance company due to the hospital being in an exclusion status.

The hospital has already received ₹5,92,000/- for pre-hospitalization charges (consultations, lab tests, etc.) and the so-called operation.

Signing this non obligatory petition on Change.org will not harm you in any way. Even though your email ID may be required to click the "Support" button, you will not be considered as a witness—your role will simply be to support this treasury. Your email ID will never be used for any other references by this Change.org (You can check other cases).

Please stand with me against such exploitative corporate hospital’s practices. Who knows how many others have suffered silently without raising their voices?

Thank you for your support with that it will build the pressure on this multi speciality hospital group to CHANGE their system and attitude.

I reserve my rights to seek legal remedies if required and prejudice.

I wish that Apollo Hospital will refund my ₹4,56,117/- immediately to close this matter.