Unethical medical practices: HC raps Telangana, Andhra Pradesh for delay in filing counters

HYDERABAD: Expressing displeasure with the attitude of the authorities concerned of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments in not filing counter affidavits till date in a PIL case filed last year, a division bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Wednesday granted time till Nov 13 as a last chance to file their counters in the case seeking regulation of private health sector and strengthening of public health system.

Principal secretaries of health department concerned have to appear before the court for explanation if the counter affidavits were not filed by the said date, the bench cautioned.

The bench of Justice V Ramasubramanian and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili was passing this direction in a PIL filed by a journalist K Narender, who sought specific action against big corporate private hospitals like Global, Care and Apollo and the erring doctors who indulged in unethical medical practices.

Earlier, the bench directed the governments to file counter affidavits on the issue.

Petitioner’s counsel NS Arjun Kumar brought to the notice of the court about the orthopaedic surgeon of Global hospital who had performed ‘height increasing surgery’ on software professional Nikhil Reddy and was suspended by the Telangana State Medical Council for a period of two years for allegedly indulging in unethical practices. Besides, the medical council had also taken action against another six doctors who included respondent Dr Chandra Bhushan, an orthopaedic surgeon, for alleged unethical practices.

On Wednesday, the bench took exception to the states for failure to file counter affidavits till date. If no counters were filed by Nov 13 then it will be taken that the averments made in the petition were agreed to be true by the respondent authorities. The case has been adjourned.