PGI forms panel to list norms for examining patients

The director of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has formed a committee to develop a transparent system to use patients during various examinations.

The director of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has formed a committee to develop a transparent system to use patients during various examinations.

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In a report on published on May 2, ‘PGI docs call patients for surgery, use them as guinea pigs instead’, HT had highlighted a case where the department of general surgery had called around two dozen patients to institute on the pretext of providing treatment.

However, they were harassed and used dummy patients for doctors in the annual exit examination of MD/MS students.

Sources told HT that the dean Dr Amod Gupta took note of the story and called a meeting chaired by Dr YK Chawla. Other senior professors were also present.

The minutes of the meeting (HT has a copy) state: “…after due deliberation, the director formed a committee to formulate guidelines in practice of using patients during various examinations.”

Professor Rajinder Singh, head, department of general surgery, has been appointed as chairman of the committee, the other members of the committee include Professor Sunit Singhi, head, department of pediatrics, professor Sanjay Jain from internal medicine, professor Arup Mandal, professor YK Batra from anaesthesia and professor Raj Bahadur from or thopaedics and professor Mangat Ram Dogra from ophthalmology.

The report had also highlighted that medical ethics and protocols were thrown to the wind at the PGIMER. When some of the patients’ attendants tried to inquire from any staff member on the purpose of the visit, they were told they would have to come again.