NCDRC orders JnJ to pay Rs 35 lakh compensation for faulty hip replacement device

In a significant ruling, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has ordered Johnson & Johnson Limited to compensate a consumer with Rs 35 lakh for medical complications arising from the company’s defective hip replacement device. The commission, comprised of presiding member Ram Surat Maurya along with members Subhash Chandra and Inder Jit Singh, was hearing a complaint filed by Purushotham Lohia, who had sought Rs 5 crore in compensation after suffering ongoing health issues following the use of the DePuy’s Acetabular System Resurfacing (ASR XL) hip implant.

According to Lohia, he underwent total hip replacement surgery with the ASR XL device. It said that though the opposite parties reimbursed Rs 25 lakh for Lohia’s revision surgery, in May 2017, no compensation was paid for his losses.