FIR against hospital hinges on fourth report: Chakankar

Pune: Maharashtra State Women's Commission chairperson Rupali Chakankar on Tuesday said the future of medical negligence allegation against Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital over prenatal death of a woman last month would hinge on the fourth inquiry committee's report, expected soon.
"The fourth committee's report is very crucial. It will determine whether there was any medical negligence or not on the part of the hospital and if an FIR would be lodged against the facility," Chakankar said in a press conference at the collector's office.
Sassoon hospital's medical superintendent is at the helm of the fourth committee.
Sassoon General Hospital and BJ Medical College dean Dr Eknath Pawar, present at the conference, said, "We received the documents related to the incident on April 9. According to the govt resolution (GR), a committee has been established to look into whether or not there was any medical negligence in the matter. Multiple meetings have taken place and the report is in its final stage. We will submit it to the Directorate of Medical Education and the police by Wednesday morning. "
Till now, three committees have submitted reports on the prenatal death of Bhise. The public health department's report indicted the hospital for refusing admission to her. The joint charity commissioner submitted a report on if the hospital followed the rules under the Bombay Public Trusts Act. Pune Municipal Corporation submitted the maternal death review report.
Chakankar said, "All the committees' reports need to be strong so that the matter stands in the court when the legal proceedings start."
She said, "The family of the victim, Tanisha Bhise, lodged a complaint with the Alankar police on April 9, demanding action against the doctor and the hospital. The women's commission is always trying to give justice to Bhise's family. We will also try to ensure that such an incident is never repeated."
Chakankar said, "The hospital has been indicted in the first report submitted by the health department. Revealing the patient's private and confidential information is also an offence."
She claimed that Bhise was prepared for surgery at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital before being told to leave, in sharp contrast to the hospital's claim. "The family has clearly said that Bhise was prepared for the surgery. I would like to say she was given robes to change and shaven before being taken to the operation theatre," she said.
Dr Dhananjay Kelkar, the medical director at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, had clarified on April 7 that the patient was never admitted to the hospital.
A senior official from the public health department, who was a part of the first committee report that indicted the hospital, said, "The family did confirm that the patient was prepared for the surgery. This was not included in our preliminary report because initially the family was not in a mental state to talk about it. The final report will include this detail."