Court asks police to register criminal case against doctors

Puri, Oct 23 (UNI) Puri Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate Anup Kumar Chandan has directed the police to register criminal case against two doctors and staff nurse of the district headquarters hospital for negligence of duty which claimed the life of a woman.

As per the complaint of one Prafulla Kumar Mishra of Purusottampur village, his wife Sabitanjali was admitted into the headquarter hospital on November 24, 2007 morning.

Medicine specialist Dr.Girish Chandra Behera, who treated her, suggested surgery and requisitioned Dr.Abhiram Mahapatra,surgery specialist, a number of times who never turned up to attend the patient.

Dr.Behera then referred the patient to the SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack the next day as her condition worsened. The patient was shifted immediately but died on way to Cuttack.

Prafulla returned with the body and lodged a complaint with the Kumbharpara police but the police did not even register a case and refused to send the body to conduct post mortem.

Angry locals had gheraoed the hospital and police station demanding stringent action against the doctors.Finding the police 'indifferent' to the incident,Prafulla filed a complaint case with the SDJM with prayer to initiate criminal case against the doctors responsible for death of his wife.

After perusal of all evidence relating to the treatment of the patient,the SDJM asked the police last Saturday to register a case under section 156 (iii) of CrPC against the two doctors and staff nurse Saila Panda.

When contacted Puri Chief District Medical Officer Trilochan Boral said he had inquired into the case.The CDMO later submitted his findings to the state health and family welfare department with recommendations to draw proceedings against the doctors for gross negligence of duty but no action was taken by the health department in this regard till date, Dr.Baral said.

UNI XC-DP PL DB1911