2 weeks after charge sheets were filed aginst GMC doctors for Raveena Rodrigues death, they are untouched
Government doctors in Goa, charged with criminal acts seemto be more privileged than policemen similarly charged. Policemen charged inthe police –drug dealer nexus cases were charged and suspended. But doctors ofthe GMC charged with medical negligence, culpable homicide(not amounting tomurder) and tampering of evidence in the Ravina Rodrigues death case, are freecitizens practicing in GMC and also –against rules- practicing in privateclinics, nursing homes.
The Goan has been vigourously following the investigations in the case of the sixteenyear old Ravina whose apendicitis operation was botched up in July 2010. The Vasco Police’s charge sheet frames DrsShantaram Surme, Dilip Amonkar and Shridhar Pai, the first two senior GMCdoctors practicing in Pai hospital Vasco, of homicide not amounting to murder,most of the charges are of fabricating and destruction of evidence.
What is equally significant is the that Ravina died afortnight after being discharged from Pai Hospital at Goa Medical College.While Dr Shridhar Pai, the owner of Pai Hospital has been booked for medicalnegligence, none of the doctors who treated her when she was admitted at GMCwere named. The inquiry report as well as video footage, of a dying Ravinatalks of her gasping for breath and writhing in pain at the GMC. Why then areGMC doctors’ names, treating her at that point of time, gone missing from thecharge sheet?
“The fact that the death occurred at GMC raises questions onthe patient handling over there too and the fact comes out clearly in theinquiry report though not in the recommendation” points out Goa Medical CouncilPresident Dr Shekhar Salkar. Salkar and other members of Goa Medical Councilopine that the inquiry such as these need to be broad based to understand thevarious factors that may have been directly or indirectly playing a role inRavina’s death.
Dr. Shekhar Salkar, Chairman, Goa Medical Council says. “Thecase came to us nine months ago. The council is ceased with the matter initialshow cause notices have been issued. An expert Committee, of independentexperts from outside Goa will be constituted to. The Goa Medical College couldhave suspended them pending charge sheet. But we cannot suspend them withouthearing the whole case. This begs the question. The Goa Medical Council, agoverning body empowered with among others, maintaining the ethical quotient ofdoctors, was seized of the nine months back. It is only now that they haveformed an expert committee to probe this.
