Woman awarded Rs 2 lakh compensation after laser skin treatment goes wrong; court holds clinic liable for negligence

NEW DELHI: A woman who went to treat skin pigmentation ended up facing a painful skin problem after a laser procedure allegedly went wrong. The consumer court has now held the clinic responsible and ordered it to pay compensation of Rs 2 lakh.What was the dispute about?The complainant, Y. Jershini, a 24-year-old woman, approached V-Care Skin Clinic for treatment of hyperpigmentation. On 7 December 2024, she paid Rs 52,689 for a Q-switch laser treatment.She alleged that on 22 February 2025, immediately after the laser procedure, the clinic applied a rose mask soaked in hot water on her face, which she said damaged her skin and caused irritation and also led to severe acne and breakouts.The condition forced her to seek further treatment at another clinic, where she spent an additional Rs 20,185.Aggrieved by the service, she approached the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Kanniyakumari, seeking a full refund of Rs 52,689 and compensation of Rs 25 lakh for mental agony and deficiency in service.What did the clinic argue?V-Care Skin Clinic, which has its corporate office in Chennai's Ambattur Industrial Estate, denied negligence.

It argued that "between Q-switch and rose mask, intermediary Aloe Gel was applied" and that the rose mask was not applied immediately after the laser procedure.The clinic further added that the complainant willfully discontinued the proper treatment and that her skin had been responding well until she stopped using the prescribed home care products.It claimed the complaint was filed "to defame the goodwill of the opposite parties and to extract money."What did the court ruling say?A bench of Thiru Y. Gladstone Blessed Tagore was unconvinced by the clinic's defence. It noted that the complainant herself had chosen the clinic, and that "there is no reason for the complainant to file a false case against the opposite parties."The commission found that "immediately after Q-switch laser procedure, rose mask soaked in hot water was applied on her face and this damaged her skin, resulting in acne and pimples."It further held that the "complainant proved that the opposite parties committed deficiency in service" and that the negligence "caused severe mental strain and mental agony" to a "young girl of just 24 years old" whose face was left with visible pimples and acne.The commission ordered the clinic to refund Rs 52,689 with 6.5 per cent interest from the date of filing to the date of disposal. It also awarded Rs 2 lakh as compensation for mental strain, mental agony, financial loss and deficiency in service, and Rs 10,000 towards litigation costs.Both the Nagercoil branch and the Chennai corporate office are equally responsible for paying the amount. If they fail to do so within one month of receiving the order, a 9 per cent annual interest will apply until the full amount is paid.