Doctors held for medical negligence

Two seniors doctors, including a cardiologist, at Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI) in Sector 44 here were arrested on Friday under charges of causing death due to negligence in connection with a woman who died due to a heart attack in May last.

The duo was let off on bail after they were produced before a local court in the afternoon.

The doctors — Suryanarayan Murthy, a cardiologist, and emergency officer V. Naga Raju — were arrested more than two months after an FIR was registered against them under Section 304 A of the IPC on February 20 in the wake of a report by the Gurugram’s CMO on a complaint filed by the deceased’s husband Mukesh Ghai.

“We had received a report from Gurugram’s CMO against the two doctors following which a FIR was registered at Sushant Lok police station. The matter was being investigated by a Special Investigation Team,” said Gurugram police spokesperson Ravinder Kumar.

Mr. Ghai, a resident of Ardee City, Sector 52, had in his complaint to the police alleged that his wife Seema was admitted to FMRI on May 12 last around 1 a.m. after she complained of chest pain.

She was not administered the emergency medicines and the treatment was delayed despite the ECG test showing abnormalities, he alleged.

Mr. Ghai, in his complaint, further said that his wife was shifted to ICU around 4.30 a.m. but the damage was done by then. The doctors conducted angioplasty on her around 8.30 a.m. and she was declared dead an hour later.

Based on the complaint, a five-member District Medical Board in its report dated September 7 last opined that not administering emergency medicines to a patient suspected to have suffered a heart attack, as observed by the doctor himself in his report, was negligence.

The report further said that not administering life-saving drugs to the patient even an hour after being directed by the senior doctor to do so amounted to negligence.

The report found that the emergency officer informed the accused cardiologist over the phone at 2.15 a.m. that the patient was given complete treatment but the records showed otherwise.

‘Sub judice matter’

When contacted for reaction on the matter, FMRI spokesperson, in a statement, said, “The matter is sub judice. We are providing complete support to the authorities concerned.” Mr. Ghai told The Hindu that he was satisfied with the police action so far but would wait for them to file the charge sheet to press for charges such as forging of documents.

“ECG report attached was forged to show that patient was fine, but it was not the case,” Mr. Ghai, said.