The State Government has mocked at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by not complying with its order in connection with the activities of errant doctors of the Puri District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), it has been alleged. Though the commission had sought a report from the Health Secretary and the Chief Secretary in this regard on September 11, 2014 within six weeks, the same is yet to be complied with though six months have been elapsed into it.
Acting on a complaint filed by human rights lawyer Subash Mohapatra regarding the denial of medical care to a pregnant woman at the Puri DHH on September 15, 2013, as a result victim Bishnupriya Mohanty delivered a baby on the hospital corridor, the NHRC issued notice to the Health Secretary and Chief Secretary on September 11, 2014.
“The Health Secretary in her report admitted negligence on the part of Gynecologist Dr Suvendu Bikash Pattanaik and another doctor Dr RN Tosh in the case. The commission had directed the Health Secretary to initiate disciplinary action against the errant doctors and also issued showcause to the Chief Secretary as to why the victim be not recommended for an interim relief. The commission has asked them to submit reports within six weeks. Unfortunately, the authorities are yet to comply with the order,” rued Mohapatra.
It made mockery of the NHRC direction by shielding its authorities without making fair departmental inquiry within stipulated time frame, Mohapatra added. The Health Secretary in her report stated Bishnu Priya Mohanty had come to Puri DHH on September 15, 2013 at about 9 am when Gynecologist Dr Suvendu Bikash Pattanaik was on duty. He checked the patient in haste and did not assess the progress of the labour, size of foetus and timings of delivery and hurriedly discharged the patient at about 10 am.
It was further submitted that the patient delivered the baby on the hospital veranda at about 10.45 am while waiting for shifting to hospital at Bhubaneswar which created havoc and drew attention of the public as well as the media. However, the patient was brought back to the labour room after disconnecting the cord on the hospital veranda. Again on September 16, 2013 the mother and the male baby were discharged by Dr RN Tosh, the senior most O/G specialist who was on duty on that day before 48 hours of delivery.