AIIMS Nurse death: AIIMS doctors question Action against Anaesthesiologist, demand fresh probe

New Delhi:  A section of AIIMS doctors demanded a fresh inquiry into the death of a staff nurse post delivery, after which a senior resident doctor was terminated by the administration.

The doctors from the department of anaesthesiology, pain medicine and critical care have alleged “bias” in the findings of a committee which had found the senior resident doctor guilty of “willful absence” from duty at the time of the incident.

In a letter to the AIIMS Director, they said that the consultant from the department of anaesthesiology was being singled out even though the committee had found “clear lapses” on the part of the department of obstetrics and gynaecology.

“Why is only the consultant of anaesthesiology being singled out even though the committee found clear lapses on the part of the department of obstetrics and gynaecology,” the letter said.

They said that the consultant concerned from the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, “in spite of being informed, chose not to come”.

“Is this not “willful absence? If she had been present, in view of she being more experienced, she may not have pressurised the junior resident doctor to induce the case, thereby preventing the course of events,” they said in the letter.

Stating the senior resident from the department of anaesthesiology cannot be held solely responsible for the incident, the department sought a fresh inquiry by a new committee.

On February 21, the All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) had terminated services of a senior resident doctor and initiated disciplinary action against three others in connection with the death of the nurse, Rajbir Kaur.

The action was taken on the findings of the inquiry committee which pointed out procedural lapses and negligence on the part of the doctors.

The 28-year-old nurse died on February 4 after Caesarean delivery. Kaur had suffered a cardiac arrest during the surgery. During treatment, she lost her baby.