Mentally ill man takes doc’s chair, checks patients, prescribes drugs

BHOPAL: A mentally disturbed man sat in a doctor’s chair on finding it unoccupied at a hospital in MP’s Chhattarpur on Wednesday, ‘checked’ patients and even scribbled outlandish prescriptions for half an hour before he was caught out. Questioned by the civil surgeon, he advised him to “see a psychiatrist” instead, and even wrote down a prescription.

“An inquiry has been ordered,” minister in charge of Chhattarpur, Brajendra Singh Rathore, said. He hasn’t been identified yet.

The impostor on Wednesday afternoon saw a chamber of mental health programme vacant was at the Civil Hospital and took the doctor’s chair. Soon enough, patients trickled in and ‘doctor sahib’ began checking them. One patient, Bhalloo Yadav, said: “He examined me exactly like a doctor and scribbled down some medicines”.

At least half a dozen patients consulted the doctor and got prescriptions. Civil surgeon Dr Tripathi said, “No one knows his name. After he was removed from the chamber, I spoke to him and realised that the man needed psychiatric help. He, in turn, asked me to see a psychiatrist. He even prescribed some medicines for me before leaving.”