The licence of M Khan Hospital in Bareilly has been suspended by an inquiry committee in connection with a controversial circumcision procedure performed on a child seeking treatment for another condition.
The committee has prima facie held the hospital management responsible for the incident.
The victim’s family has alleged that the hospital management provided incorrect information, although this claim is yet to be verified.
The chief medical officer (CMO) has stated that a detailed report will be submitted to the government after the completion of the two-day investigation.
The incident took place on Friday when a Hindu couple from Sanjay Nagar in Bareilly brought their two-year-old son to M Khan Hospital on Stadium Road for treatment related to stammering. Instead of the intended operation on the palate, it is alleged that the child was circumcised.
The situation escalated when Hindu organisations expressed their outrage, prompting officials from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to arrive at the hospital, accompanied by the police. Later in the evening, the child’s father filed a complaint at the Baradari police station.
On Saturday, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak directed the CMO to form a committee and initiate an inquiry into the matter after it gained public attention.
The four-member committee, which was constituted promptly, initially recorded statements of the hospital management. On Sunday, the committee visited the victim’s family to gather their account of the incident.
According to the Health department, the family stated that they were asked to sign a file written in English, despite not understanding the language. When they raised their concern, the doctor did not provide any specific information and simply instructed them to sign.
Trusting the doctor’s advice, the family proceeded to sign the document. After the operation, the child was returned to the ward, where the family noticed a bandage tied around penis when they removed the child’s clothes due to excessive heat. The hospital management has been accused of withholding correct information and conspiring to perform the circumcision procedure.
The suspension of M Khan Hospital’s licence comes as a significant step taken by the inquiry committee, signaling their initial assessment of the hospital management’s involvement in the incident.
As the investigation progresses, the committee aims to establish the facts surrounding the case and ascertain the extent of responsibility.
The chief medical officer has assured that the investigation will be concluded within two days and a comprehensive report will be submitted to the government. The incident has raised concerns about the transparency and communication practices of the hospital management, emphasising the need for improved protocols to safeguard patient rights and ensure accurate information dissemination to avoid such unfortunate incidents in the future.