Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, May 17: The Magisterial Inquiry Committee which conducted probe into the circumstances which led to the death of 18-year old boy Shariq Shahdab and relative of MLA Dadral, Ch Zulfiqar, in District Hospital Rajouri during minor operation on May 1, 2013 has clearly indicted Dr Bashir Khan, real brother of Minister of State for Health (Ind Charge) Shabir Ahmed Khan and surgeon Dr Vijay Gupta for negligence.
District Magistrate, Rajouri F C Bhagat had ordered Magisterial probe into the death of 12th class student, Shariq Shahdab (Nephew of MLA Darhal), son of Mohd Shabir, resident of Tarala Pajnara in Kandi, who died on operation table during minor surgery of nose in District Hospital Rajouri due to alleged negligence of doctors. The shocking incident had evoked a strong protest from the public and the relatives of the deceased on the fateful day.
A two- member inquiry panel comprising Assistant Commissioner (R) Rajouri, Sachin Dev Singh and DySP Headquarters, Rajouri Sanjay Sharma submitted the report to the Deputy Commissioner Rajouri late last evening. The District Magistrate forwarded the report to the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Pardeep Gupta and Commissioner /Secretary Health and Medical Education today for further action under law against both the doctors. Dr Bashir Khan (Minister’s brother) provided anaesthesia to the boy before surgery while Dr Vijay Gupta ( ENT Specialist) performed minor surgery of the nose of the youth in hospital.
The inquiry committee has while fixing responsibility on both the doctors concluded that death of the boy Shariq has been caused either by the over dose of anaesthesia or the reaction of drugs provided during the surgery process. Both the medicos also admitted this fact before the inquiry panel with the claim that death may also be due to suppression of heart movement, because of the dose of anaesthesia.
The probe panel indicted the medicos for not conducting all the necessary tests before a surgery and following established procedures, before administering general anaesthesia. It also found that there was no record available, with regard to the medicines that were given during the medication/ operation as the file of the patient has no record.
The pre-medication before the surgery is generally given by a doctor or strictly by a senior under his guidance but it as matter of routine was given by a nursing orderly. The panel pointed out that medicines given during medication for anaesthesia were mostly seductive in nature, it could lead to cardiac arrest and needed extra precaution.
The committee also observed that there was no examination of the patient with regard to the allergy or reaction of the drugs that was used on him before or during the surgery. Anaesthetist did not examine the patient before operation and only met him in the Operation Theatre. There was no trained staff on Operation Theatre who could have helped / assisted in saving the life of the patient.
The panel also concluded that there was no need of general anaesthesia because, it was a minor surgery and it could have been done by giving local anaesthesia. The doctor performing surgery (Dr Gupta) had asked the patient to come empty stomach but did not exactly explain the repercussions of having diet after night and it seems that doctor did not examine the patient in the morning to ascertain that the patient is empty stomach or not. Moreover, the parents of the deceased patient were not informed especially with regard to the conduct of surgery.
Meanwhile, MLA Darhal Ch Zulfiqar said that DC had given one week time to complete the inquiry but more than two weeks time was taken by the District Administration. He alleged that there was tremendous pressure on the officers concerned to save minister’s brother and this was the reason behind the delay. He said that efforts are still being made to tamper the inquiry report at different levels and if anything wrong was done, he will lead a massive agitation in Rajouri. He said that they will also go for legal remedies if the Government tried to save the accused persons. The MLA said that Director Health Jammu Dr Madhu Khullar also ordered a parallel inquiry but nothing will come out of it as they all are hell bent to save own minister’s relative. The victim’s family, relatives and people know about the fate of this so called inquiry, he added.
It has been alleged that Dr Bashir, who hails from Manjakote in Rajouri was posted there for the last over 18 years while Dr Vijay Gupta for the last more than 15 years. Against one sanctioned post of ENT Specialist in DH Rajouri, two ENT doctors were working in the same hospital as Dr Gupta who was shifted to Poonch a few years back managed his posting back at his home town.
Director Health Services Jammu Dr Madhu Khullar claimed that on the directions of Minister Incharge Health a departmental inquiry has been ordered into the matter. She said Deputy Director Health Jammu Dr Ved Sharma is heading the inquiry committee. Three other senior doctors namely Dr Rakesh, Dr K K Gupta and Dr Arun are other members. She said the action will be taken against the doctor/ doctors only after inquiry is over.
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