Pune: Junior Resident Doctors Suspended Over Forced Discharge of Handicapped Patient At Sassoon Hospital As Seniors Were ‘Unaware’
Pune, 31st July 2024: The dean of BJ Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, Dr. Eknath Pawar, has suspended a second junior resident doctor in connection with the forced discharge of a handicapped patient in the early hours of July 22.
The first suspension took place on July 23, following the filing of an FIR under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for a negligent act endangering human life. This action was prompted by the emergence of a video showing the patient, who had both legs amputated, left under a tree in Yerawada.
Dr. Pawar stated, “Based on the internal committee’s report, we identified another male junior resident involved in escorting the patient out of the hospital. This doctor has been suspended from academic activities until further notice. We have also recommended expelling both doctors from the hostel and college for one academic term. The final decision on their expulsion rests with the medical education department, the DMER director, and the medical education commissioner.”
He clarified that no other staff members, including nurses, were involved in the incident. “The report includes a response from the head of the orthopedic department, Dr. Girish Bartakke, to our show-cause notice. Dr. Bartakke has claimed he was unaware of the incident, and we have no evidence of his involvement,” Pawar added.
The two junior doctors, both first-year master’s students in orthopedic surgery, were caught on CCTV cameras taking the patient outside the hospital premises. An official revealed that the patient had repeatedly requested discharge but could not be released without the proper procedure being followed.
Dr. Pawar elaborated, “Whenever an unidentified patient arrives at the hospital, our social welfare team tries to locate a relative. If a relative is found, the patient is handed over to them. If no relative is found, we rehabilitate the patient with the help of an NGO. In this case, the patient was awaiting rehabilitation.”
