The State government on Friday dismissed two doctors of the Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedics (SGITO) and suspended two others for medical negligence while treating 3-year-old Mariyam Kousar who suffered brain damage recently after she was allegedly administered an overdose of anaesthesia.
Officials said prima facie evidence pointed to medical negligence by the doctors who have been named in the probe report.
Two sourced-in anaesthesia specialists Dr Surangama Tripathi and Dr Deepak have been dismissed, according to Madan Gopal, Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare. Dr Prakashappa T H, Unit 4 HoD, Orthopaedics, and Dr Shivalingiah, Professor and HoD, Anaesthesia, have been suspended till further inquiry.
The doctors have also been charged with “dereliction of duty,” according to the first round of findings of the committee. A retired district judge would be appointed to look into and take a call on the final round of inquiry, Gopal said.
Since SGITO is an autonomous institute that has chosen to follow the Karnataka Civil Service Rules, procedures would be followed accordingly. “The Department of Health will, however, reserve the right to take appropriate action after the inquiry,” he added. The committee formed to look into the matter summoned 18 doctors from the hospital and questioned them.
Kousar was taken to SGITO on December 13, 2013, with a fracture on her left hand. She was operated upon three days later following which she fell sick, owing to an overdose of anaesthesia that made her hypoxic. She is presently being treated at Malathi Manipal Hospital. “There were around 12 parameters for the medical negligence and one of them is an overdose of anaesthesia,” Gopal said.
The girl continues to remain in a state of coma and doctors said her condition had improved. Dr Sudarshan H Ballal, managing director of Manipal Hospitals, said the child’s neurological condition had, however, not changed. “She is getting more stable but there is a significant neurological deficit. The longer she takes to recover, the less likely it is that she will get better. But she is showing occasional movement,” he said.
Reshma, the victim’s relative, said, “Now that the doctors have been proved guilty, we will take the matter to the court.”
