KEM hospital begins inquiry into surgeries without consent

KEM Hospital has initiated a preliminary inquiry into the allegations that the head of neuro-surgery department, Dr Atul Goel and his junior, Dr Abhidha Shah used a novel spinal cord surgical technique to treat cervical spondylosis without patients' informed consent or approval from the hospital's ethics committee.

KEM Hospital has initiated a preliminary inquiry into the allegations that the head of neuro-surgery department, Dr Atul Goel and his junior, Dr Abhidha Shah used a novel spinal cord surgical technique to treat cervical spondylosis without patients' informed consent or approval from the hospital's ethics committee.

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The inquiry has been ordered after two surgeons from Dr Goel's department allegedly circulated an anonymous email to doctors across the city last week.

Dr Sanjay Oak, dean, KEM Hospital said that the inquiry committee would look into the ethical aspects of using the surgical technique, its limitations, merits and side effects.

"The committee will submits its report in the next five to six days. An inquiry will also be initiated against those who sent the anonymous email which harmed institutional discipline," he said.

Dr Goel admitted that he did not take the approval of the hospital's ethics committee. "This is an innovative technique and there is nothing unethical about it," he said adding that the anonymous emails were a result of rivalry between doctors.