Doc suicide: Medical body writes to Raj CM

Mumbai: The Association of Medical Consultants (AMC) has written to Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot expressing anger at the death of a gynaecologist in Dausa by suicide, a day after an FIR was lodged against her in an alleged case of medical negligence. The AMC has now demanded that the cops, who rushed to file the FIR without proper medical investigation, and relatives of the patient should be booked for abetting her suicide.

The death of Dr Archana Sharma (42) on Tuesday has triggered nationwide protests among the medical fraternity. The gynaecologist was booked for murder under IPC section 302 for the death of a 22-year-old pregnant woman.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the AMC stated the woman encountered a known complication of post-partum haemorrhage. “Post partum haemorrhage is still a leading cause of maternal death in our country and a detailed medical inquest has to be done before certifying it as a case of negligence,” they said. “Unfortunately, bowing to pressures from political elements.., the police filed a case under section 302 against the doctor. Police clearly violated the fundamental principles of deciding medical negligence as laid down by the SC, which mandates a reference to a medical board before filing any case against a doctor,” the association said. AMC is a pan-India association of 13,000 specialists.

“There are laws for protection of healthcare workers, but enforcement is not efficient,” said Dr Sudhir Naik, AMC medico legal cell chairman. tnn