Manipal Cigna fined for demanding cardiac tests during CPR

Manipal Cigna has been fined by the Consumer Commission of India after a patient’s family filed a complaint that the insurer insisted on conducting cardiac test cartridges at the time of administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The order, issued in an emergency health‑care dispute, finds the insurer’s actions intrusive and contrary to established patient‑rights protocols.

The incident unfolded when a patient in critical condition suffered a cardiac arrest and was rushed to a local hospital. While the medical team commenced life‑saving CPR, the insurer’s claim officer requested additional laboratory investigations, which would have delayed immediate treatment. The patient’s relatives argued that such requirements infringed upon the urgency and sanctity of emergency care, and soon brought the matter to the commission’s attention citing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act provisions.

In its ruling, the commission highlighted that insisting on unnecessary diagnostic tests during a life‑saving procedure violates the “right to timely and effective medical treatment.” The fine serves as a cautionary precedent for all insurers operating in Karnataka and beyond, reinforcing that immediate life‑preserving interventions must not be hind‑ridden by administrative procedures. Source: Google News – Manipal.