Shillong, March 26: Taking strong cognizance into a case of alleged medical negligence where a baby died after its birth through the operation carried out at the Ganesh Das Hospital, the Meghalaya Peoples Human Rights Council (MPHRC) has strongly urge upon the government to constitute a high level Expert Committee of doctors to enquire into the matter and that the recommendation of the medical opinion should be given within a reasonable time framed.
“The basis of facts and circumstances of the alleged incident clearly demonstrate that the patient was deprived of treatment by the doctor on duty at the Government run Hospital. If the allegations are found to be true by the Expert Committee of doctors, this itself is a violation of human rights for which the Government and the hospital authority is responsible” said Pynskhem Syiemlieh, Information and Public Relation Secretary MPHRC.
Referring the the Hon’ble Supreme Court Judgement “criminal prosecution of doctors without adequate medical opinion would be great disservice to the community – as it would shake the very fabric of doctor- patient relationship with respect to mutual confidence and faith the doctors would be more worried about their own safety instead of giving best treatment to their patients” added MPHRC.
“The legal position is almost firmly established that where a patient dies due to the negligent medical treatment of the doctor, the doctor can be made liable in civil law for paying compensation and damages in ‘Tort’ and at the same time, if the degree of negligence is so gross and if the doctors act was reckless as to endanger the life of the patient, they would also be made criminally liable for offence under section 304-A of IPC” said MPHRC.
Medical Council of India and State Medical Councils should come forward to strictly implement its regulations over medical profession because the failure of these regulatory bodies to keep check on the erring doctors or to effectively enforce ethical guidelines framed in 2002, are the reasons for falling standard of health care in India concluded MPHRC.(SP News)
