Acting tough, the AIIMS has initiated disciplinary action against five doctors after an internal probe panel held them guilty of lapses in treatment of a 20-year-old dengue patient, who died at the hospital around a month back.
AIIMS had appointed a committee headed by Dr V K Paul after family members of Bharat Agaria, son of an AIIMS staffer, alleged he was not extended proper treatment. The family had alleged Agaria was sent back home twice before being admitted to the hospital. He had died on August 31.
"As per the lapses pointed out by the Committee, one assistant professor has been charged with not having followed up on the patient after getting him admitted, while the other one was found to have not played a proactive role on the management front," said a senior AIIMS official.
"The senior resident doctor was served show cause notice for lack of post-admission involvement after the patient was shifted to ICU," said the official.
Also, according to the report, one junior resident was found to have given "excessive anti-hypertensive medicines" to the patient without consulting the Chief Medical officer, while the other one has been charged with giving a painkiller without doing the clinical evaluation.
AIIMS Spokesperson Dr Amit Gupta said that the Committee has not found any "criminal intent" on the part of the five doctors including two assistant professors.
"Internal disciplinary action has been initiated against the five doctors and relevant show cause notices have been issued seeking their explanation over the lapses. The report has been submitted to the Union Health Ministry," he said.
Gupta said authorities were waiting for the replies of the five doctors after which follow-up action will be decided.
A senior faculty member of AIIMS said the internal disciplinary action would affect the appraisals and promotions of the concerned doctors.
The sister of the deceased had also met the Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Sep 24 after which Nadda had sought an action taken report from the AIIMS authorities.
