HC to MP govt: Why no action against docs for toddlers’ death?

The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh high court on Monday issued notices to the state government asking why no action has been taken against the six doctors, who were alleged to be responsible for the death of two toddlers at MY Hospital.

The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh high court on Monday issued notices to the state government asking why no action has been taken against the six doctors, who were alleged to be responsible for the death of two toddlers at MY Hospital.

The MY hospital authorities submitted a list of equipment functional in the hospital before the court. (Shankar Mourya/HT photo)

The high court issued one week time to the government to reply on the matter. A division bench was hearing the writ petitions filed into the deaths of toddlers, who were accidentally administered nitrous oxide in May.

The counsels for the petitioners said the doctors who are found be involved in the entire episode are still working in the hospital and could manipulate crucial facts related to the twin deaths.

Advocate Shanno Khan of Human Rights Law Network urged the court that the doctors be transferred until the investigation is over. The judicial committee constituted by the high court may not be able to gather accurate facts in the case, if the doctors continue to work in the same place, Khan said.

An independent high-level committee has found the involvement of Dr AD Bhatnagar, Dr Sunil Narang, Dr Brajesh Lahoti, Dr MK Rathod, Dr KK Arora and Dr Basant Nigwal in the case. These doctors held important administrative positions in the hospital and were involved in issuing tenders under the Kayakalp mission.

The MY hospital authorities had submitted a list of equipment functional in the hospital before the court. In the list, only two out of 48 ventilator machines and two out of 40 infusion pumps were found be non-functional.

However, a list submitted by advocate Shanno Khan, after conducting her own enquiry portrayed the opposite scenario.