Medical boards to decide in plaints against doctors

Haryana Government has constituted district-level medical boards named ‘District Medical Boards for Negligence’ to decide complaints against private or government doctors or hospitals for medical negligence. 

These boards would consist of civil surgeon of the district as chairperson and have principal medical officer or medical superintendent of district hospital as member-secretary, said an official spokesman.

Its three members would include two specialists in the domain related to the complaint, either both from government or one from government and one from the private sector. In case subject specialist is not available, the chairperson can call one from other district and one member of district IMA, who would be selected by the District IMA president.

The spokesman said that the board would look into all complaints against the private or government doctors or hospitals for medical negligence and would be empowered to call and seek the assistance of anybody or any record associated with the complaint. It would also have the power to inspect the premises, if required, said the spokesman.

The investigating officers would obtain independent and competent medical opinion from the board before proceeding against the doctors accused of rash or negligent act. The board would give an impartial and unbiased opinion by putting the facts to test and devise a transparent procedure to receive complaints, he said.

The boards have been constituted in pursuance of the order of the Supreme Court dated August 5, 2005.