CBI to probe if high court judge's mother died of negligence

CHANDIGARH: In a case of alleged negligence wherein a high court judge's mother died in PGI three months ago, CBI has been asked to investigate the matter after the PMO was informed about the complaint.

Officials in PGI informed TOI that the CBI has asked for the duty roster of doctors in the cardiac centre on the day the patient died.

In July this year, an 84-year-old woman was rushed to PGI's advanced cardiac centre where she passed away within a few hours. Not satisfied with the timely treatment of the patient, the family alleged that the cause of the death was the absence of senior doctors. However, by the time the resident doctors called the consultant, the patient had breathed her last. Soon after the family complained to the PGI director, a committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Prof GD Puri, head of anaesthesia department. The committee did not find any negligence in patient's care. The family had refused for postmortem.

Not convinced by the committee's report, the family demanded for an external medical board. "A medical board comprising doctors from both PGI and AIIMS was formed to probe the matter. The board in its report mentioned the cause of death as cardiac arrest," said a senior doctor.

A complaint was also sent to the Union ministry of health and family welfare and the PMO. "Consequently, the CBI was asked to investigate the case. All files pertaining to the patient are being scrutinized and the doctors would be questioned soon," an official at the medical institute said.

The doctors are now jittery about examining VVIP patients. "It is discouraging that despite seeing over 8,000 OPD patients every day, we are held guilty of negligence," said a doctor at PGI.

Earlier in 2003, CBI had registered a case against a cardiothoracic surgeon in PGI. The professor was found guilty of hatching a criminal conspiracy and cheating patients by charging high fees for artificial heart valve implants.

PGI director Dr Jagat Ram could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.