MCI for probe & action against 3 private hospital doctors

MCI Deputy Secretary Dr Reena Nayyar directed the PMC Registrar to decide the complaint within six months under Clause 8.4 of the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct,Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations,2002.

The MCI has acted on a criminal complaint filed by Global Human Rights Council (GHRC),a human rights protection NGO,through its chairperson advocate Arvind Thakur and four other senior functionaries.

In the complaint,the copies of which were also marked to Punjab DGP,DHS,Mohali DC and SSP,GHRC had alleged “attempt to murder,extreme professional misconduct and grave violation of Human Rights” during the treatment of a Mohali Phase VII widow Inderjit Kaur by the doctors at Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Eye Hospital Trust in Sohana. Three doctors — Aneja,MK Brar and Gurpreet — were named as accused in the complaint.

Categorically refuting the charges,the hospital spokesperson Harpreet Singh said,“All three doctors named in the complaint are very senior and most competent. There are chances of complication in every surgery but our doctors try their best to fight any such situation. Our doctors had knowingly or intentionally not done any wrong of any patient”. Regretting any problem or inconvenience caused to any patient,Singh offered full support and cooperation to the MCI and PMC in any investigation. The complaint submitted that Inderjit,in her early 40s,was under treatment at the hospital since July 2008 and was advised surgery for removal of her uterus and accordingly,she was admitted in the hospital on August 17.

“During the process of surgery,some extraordinary or unethical treatment was started by these doctors and some critical disorder took place due to which 10 units of blood and 4 units each of plasma and platelets were demanded,” alleged the complainant,while submitting that when the patient’s condition continued to deteriorate and was allegedly “ignored” by the doctors,she was shifted to a private hospital in Sector 46-D,Chandigarh.

It was further stated that after being thoroughly examined at the Chandigarh hospital,it was ascertained that she was suffering from various serious ailments,for which she was not treated.

Alleging grave violation of fundamental and human rights of the patient due to her treatment in such a “brutally” manner,causing “danger to her life”,Thakur submitted that the poor widow had to spend Rs 50,000 for her “wrong” treatment,which further required another Rs 80,000 for her “proper” treatment.

Seeking a thorough probe into the matter,the GHRC demanded stern action against the doctors and medical staffers responsible for the patient’s plight.