Mayo doc writes check-up report without visiting ward

Nagpur: In a shocking development, a junior resident doctor at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), also known as Mayo Hospital, prepared a patient assessment report two days in advance while the same is generally done after personally examining patients.
Relatives of a haematemesis (vomiting of blood) patient admitted at IGGMCH were baffled to see the doctor writing June 20 and 21 daily assessments on June 19 itself. Some findings reported in the sheet were inconsistent as well.

After admission, a patient is examined by the on-duty doctors during the morning and evening rounds. Following the check-up, the doctor makes notes based on the latest findings. The noting includes general conditions like heart rate, pulse, blood pressure, status of injury, if any, etc. This is a written record of the patient’s actual condition.
“I went to see the patient on June 19. Ryle’s tube was put on this patient’s nose to flush out the stomach. On June 19, they removed the tube. But as per the notes, the doctor has mentioned a particular quality removed through the tube for June 20. Secondly, a blood bag was kept near the patient and no instruction was given,” said a relative.
The relative said that the nursing staff was also not aware of notes and blood transfusion. “No resident doctor was present on June 19 evening,” the relative said.
Dr Radha Munje, medical superintendent, IGGMCH, said that the doctor entered advance dates by mistake but refuted the charge that the patient was left unattended. “Such errors happen at times. The patient had an extremely low level of haemoglobin at the time of admission. He received four plasma and one blood bag. When we administer plasma and blood, a patient can’t be left unmonitored. The patient was in continuous monitoring of the doctor,” she said.
Dr Munje said that blood is kept under refrigeration in the bank. “It is brought at room temperature before transfusing into the patient’s body. So, we need to wait for some time,” she said.