Team Herald

PANJIM: The Goa Association of Resident Doctors (GARD) has strongly condemned the Goa Medical College and Hospital action against senior resident doctor, attached to Radiology department, who has been placed under suspension for alleged negligence in handling former MLA late Jitendra Deshprabhu’s case.

However, GARD has demanded that the suspension order be upheld until pending findings of the Institutional Disciplinary Committee into the case.

Deshprabhu, 63, died last month due to pneumonia. Congress had raised serious doubts over mysterious death of its firebrand leader.

Based on the initial inquiry findings, the GMC suspended the senior doctor, after she was found missing from duty.

“The GARD strongly condemns the order issued by GMC,” Association President Dr Pratik Sawant said in a letter submitted to GMC Dean.

“We strongly advise you to conduct an appropriate inquiry into the alleged case and the said senior resident’s suspension order to be upheld until the committee takes appropriate decision,” the Association said.

The GARD claimed that the suspension was carried out by GMC without constituting an Institutional Disciplinary Committee inquiry into a case of alleged negligence on part of the senior resident.

“At a time when our State and the country at large is facing pandemic, the action carried out by GMC is demoralising and de-motivating to the serving residents of this institutions, who are already overburdened and overstressed, working as frontline warriors in the ongoing pandemic,” it added.

Deshprabhu, a senior Congress leader, was admitted in GMC on April 21, in breathless condition and was put on ventilator.

Health Minister Vishwajit Rane as well as GMC Dean were on record that the COVID-19 test conducted on Deshprabhu was negative and that he died due to pneumonia.

Goa Pradesh congress Committee (GPCC) has demanded impartial inquiry into his mysterious death by a retired High Court Judge.