Medical ethics in Baramulla under question

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Sopore locals accuse private lab owners thrusting unnecessary medical tests on patients

Parents of deceased 6-month-old baby aghast over abeyance in ‘time bound’ inquiry

KD Correspondent

Sopore, Sept 29: The locals of Sopore on Thursday accused Ahmad’s Path lab and Super Speciality Clinic in North Kashmir’s Sopore town of forcing patients to go for unnecessary costly medical tests at their respective laboratories.

The allegations levelled by the patients were however refuted by the clinic authorities.

The incident came under notice after a female patient from Sopore village alleged that a doctor heading private clinic and laboratory at ‘Ahmad’s path lab’ in Sopore was asked to do unnecessary medical tests even after the patient had undergone the said tests a day before from the different lab in the same vicinity.

Adfar (name changed), a 22-years-old female patient from Zaingeer village of Sopore said that she had went to a private clinic in Sopore for treatment and the doctor namely Dr Tanveer Hassan Banday there told her to undergo blood sugar test even though she had done the same test just a day before from an another lab.

“The doctor didn’t accept my previous test and asked me to do the HbA1c (Glycemic control) test from his lab only. He kept on forcing me to take a repeated test,” the patient said.

The patient said that the test report came and showed abnormal HbA1c (Diabetic from the last three months) and the doctor diagnosed and gave medicines.

“I was shocked to see the report and did a repeat test from two different labs in the vicinity and the report was entirely different than that of Ahmad’s Lab clinic”, she said.

Meanwhile, Dr Tanveer, who owns the lab said that there is always a probability of technical errors as well as human ones. In case the patient is not satisfied with the test results, we can go for a repeat test, he said. He refuted the allegations levelled by the patient.

“There may be a conspiracy to defame our lab. Let them give us a chance to counter the test, and will retake her tests at our own cost”, he added.

The patient said that the incident should open the eyes of administration to take legal action against such clinics who loot poor patients in the name of getting tests done and medicos should understand that patients are already aggrieved who want a cure to treat their ailments.

“The medicos, lab owners should not loot poor patient. They should provide good services instead because people have entrusted them with utmost faith,” she added.

In Baramulla, three days have passed after Principal Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla ordered an inquiry to probe the cause of death of a six month old baby who allegedly died due to the negligence of doctors and paramedics in Associated Hospital GMC Baramulla. It has triggered widespread protest and public outcry on social media.

Interestingly, following strong protest by family of the deceased baby and his relatives in the hospital, Principal GMC Dr. Ruby Reshi ordered any inquiry and constituted a team of ‘experts’ to ascertain the facts behind the death of child in the hospital.

She issued an order bearing No: GMC/BLA/ 2022/ 11820-23 dated 26-09-2022. The order reads, “ The undersigned is in receipt of complaint from the parent namely Yasir Ahmad Beigh F/O of the deceased Mohd Moosa, complaining the death of his 6 months old son due to medical negligence. In this regard a team of following expert doctors is hereby constituted to make an impartial preliminary investigation of the case.”

The inquiry team includes Medical Superintendent Associated Hospital GMC Baramulla, Dr. Nisar Ahmad Khan, Associate Professor, Medicine, Dr. Hakeem Viqar Associate Professor, Surgery, Dr. Fayaz Munshi, Associate Professor, Anesthesiology and Dr. Suhail Ah Choh, Associate Professor, Pediatrics.

The order further reads, “The report shall reach the office of the undersigned by today (26-09-22) positively.”

However, family alleged that two days have passed by but they have not been informed about the progress of the inquiry.

“We want the inquiry report which health authorities should make public. We want justice to be delivered so that no other unfortunate father like me loses his precious baby,” said wailing father of the baby Yasir Ahmad Beig.

Earlier, family had alleged that the on duty junior resident Dr. Altaf Iqbal neither bothered to call his senior resident despite their repeated pleas but they allegedly administered 1 gm Ceftriaxone injection that too without test dose. However, after few minutes their child Mosia Yasir died.

An official from the hospital administration wishing anonymity said that the inquiry committee submitted its report to Principal GMC but he can’t divulge further details.

“I have received the report which is ready. But nobody has asked me to submit it. I will either submit it to my higher ups and would discuss it with the Deputy Commissioner,” said Principal GMC Dr. Ruby Reshi.

“I was not satisfied with the report so I have raised some questions. I have asked HOD Pediatrics to answer them so that inquiry would be impartial and fair,” she added.

When asked as of now whether any action has been taken she said, “No action has been taken so far. I cannot disengage anyone. I will recommend the action which is to be taken by the higher authorities afterwards.”

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