Medical body penalises pathologist

The Delhi Medical Council (DMC) has recommended removal of the name of a pathologist from the state medical register for allegedly writing medical examination reports for 20-odd laboratories across the city without visiting them. Sidhartha Dutta reports.

The Delhi Medical Council (DMC) has recommended removal of the name of a pathologist from the state medical register for allegedly writing medical examination reports for 20-odd laboratories across the city without visiting them.

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The action was recommended by the DMC disciplinary committee for a period of two months. "An investigation by the anti-quackery committee of the government found Dr Rakesh Kumar Bhatnagar's name on the pad of a clinic run by a quack. It was also established that Bhatnagar had registered his name with about 20 labs but hardly visited any," said Dr Girish Tyagi of DMC.

"When Bhatnagar could not produce the details of all the labs he visited, the case was referred to the disciplinary committee," he said.

The committee passed an order against Bhatnagar on June 3 for his "unprofessional and casual attitude".

"Dr Bhatnagar prepares pathology reports without visiting the laboratories. His actions are highly unprofessional and reflects his casual attitude, hence the disciplinary committee recommends that his name be removed from the state medical register of the council for a period of 60 days and he should refrain from such unethical practices in future," the committee's report stated.

The accused doctor has a month's time to reply to the allegations and seek stay from the court, if required.

Bhatnagar, however, defended his case. "My name was being misused by quacks and I have filed an FIR against them for using my name without my consent."

"I have my name registered in 18-19 laboratories in the city. I usually visit those close to my house and pathology samples are sent home for examination, if the laboratory is far away. I've submitted all the documents that the disciplinary committee had for. I have also sent a legal notice to the DMC and marked a copy each to the Medical Council of India and the Union health ministry to withdraw the case against me," he added.

Tyagi, however, maintained that legal notice sent by Bhatnagar doesn't serve any purpose. "The order will be effective from July 4," he said.