Two doctors were dismissed and two others are suspended by the State government on Friday for medical negligence.
The doctors are from Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedics (SGITO).While treating 3-year-old Mariyam Kousar they administered an overdose of anaesthesia due to which she suffered brain damage recently .
According to Madan Gopal, Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, two sourced-in anaesthesia specialists Dr Surangama Tripathi and Dr Deepak have been dismissed, while Dr Prakashappa T H, Unit 4 HoD, Orthopaedics, and Dr Shivalingiah, Professor and HoD, Anaesthesia, have been suspended till further inquiry. Officials said prima facie evidence pointed to medical negligence by the doctors who have been named in the probe report.
Irresponsible behaviour at the time of duty was the first findings of the committee. A call on the final round of inquiry would be look into by a retired district judge ,Gopal said.
Since SGITO is an autonomous institute that has chosen to follow the Karnataka Civil Service Rules, procedures would be followed accordingly. “The Department of Health will, however, reserve the right to take appropriate action after the inquiry,” he added. The committee formed to look into the matter summoned 18 doctors from the hospital and questioned them.
On December 13, 2013, Kousar was admitted to SGITO with a fracture on her left hand. She was operated upon three days later following which she fell sick, owing to an overdose of anaesthesia. At present she is getting treated at Malathi Manipal Hospital. “There were around 12 parameters for the medical negligence and one of them is an overdose of anaesthesia,”
According to Dr Sudarshan H Ballal, Managing Director of Manipal Hospitals, the girl continues to remain in a state of coma and her condition had improved. “She is getting more stable but there is a significant neurological deficit. The child’s neurological condition had, however, not changed .The longer she takes to recover, the less likely it is that she will get better. But she is showing occasional movement,” he said.
“Now that the doctors have been proved culpable, we will take the matter to the court.” Reshma, the victim’s relative, said,