Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) has suspended a senior resident doctor (radiologist) for alleged negligence in handling former MLA late Jitendra Deshprabhu’s case. Deshprabhu, 63, died last month of pneumonia.
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Sources at GMC confirmed that a senior resident doctor attached to the Radiology Department has been placed under suspension pending a departmental inquiry. “During the initial inquiry it was found that the doctor was missing from duty, when Deshprabhu was brought to the hospital,” sources said.
“The doctor, who was on duty, was missing, when the former MLA was brought for a CT scan. The doctor, even failed to make alternative arrangement in her absence,” sources added.
Despite several attempts, GMC Dean Shivanand Bandekar was unavailable for comments.
Deshprabhu, a senior Congress leader, was admitted in GMC on April 21, in a breathless condition and placed on ventilator. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, as well as the GMC Dean, were on record that the COVID-19 test conducted on Deshprabhu was negative and that he died due to pneumonia.
Raising serious doubts over the mysterious death of its firebrand leader, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has demanded an impartial enquiry by a retired High Court Judge into Deshprabhu’s mysterious death.
GPCC president Girish Chodankar alleged that Deshprabhu lost his life due to sheer negligence of GMC authorities. “There are shocking reports of ‘Mission Cover-up COVID-19’ by the Chief Minister and Health Minister, which has compelled us to demand an impartial inquiry in the interest of the health of people of Goa,” Chodankar said in a statement.
Chodankar listed out a series of negligent acts by GMC from the time Deshprabhu was admitted in GMC till he was declared dead. As per information that has been gathered, Chodankar said that two key on-duty doctors were missing when they were needed to attend on the former MLA.
He alleged that the Health Minister as well as GMC Dean are trying to protect these senior doctors.
Chodankar also claimed that certifying Deshprabhu negative for COVID-19 is a matter of suspicion as every authority from the Chief Minister to the Health Minister to the GMC Dean had given contradictory versions of his COVID test.
“Deshprabhu was brought to the GMC hospital at around 2.45pm and was declared dead around 6pm, within three hours. Soon after his death, the Dean said the rapid test conducted tested negative for COVID. The next day Health Minister tweeted that the rapid test kits were never opened and only laboratory tests were conducted in Deshprabhu’s case. And then the Chief Minister said that while rapid test results require two hours, the laboratory test requires minimum six hours,” he said.
Congress has demanded clarifications on whether proper protocol of tests were, followed specially with those who passed away with COVID-19 symptoms in the isolation wards at GMC.
IN SUSPENSE
CASE DETAILS
– Deshprabhu admitted in GMC on April 21, in
breathless condition and placed on ventilator
–
Senior resident doctor missing from duty when Deshprabhu was taken for CT scan
–
Doctor failed to make alternative arrangement in her absence
– Former MLA died the same day
– Health Minister, GMC Dean confirm COVID-19 test
was negative
CONGRESS
ALLEGATIONS
– Deshprabhu
brought to GMC at around 2.45pm, declared dead around 6pm
– Dean said rapid
test was negative for COVID
– Next day Health
Minister said rapid test kits were not opened and laboratory tests conducted on
Deshprabhu
– Chief Minister
said rapid test results require two hours, laboratory test requires minimum six
hours
