AIIMS Nurse Death: Suspended Doctor Reaches NCST Commission

Union Secretary, health, AIIMS director summoned for personal appearance in discussion be held on April 19th,2017 

NEW DELHI: The resident doctor working with the anaesthesia department of AIIMS, New Delhi, who had been suspended after pregnant staff nurse`s death during treatment, here, has now approached the doors of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) asking for intervention.

In a complaint with the authority the SR Anaesthesia has alleged AIIMS disciplinary authority was biased against her, and she had been made a scapegoat in the entire incident.

"I have been discriminated for being a minority belonging to a scheduled tribe, and I was made a scapegoat in the whole situation to protect connected people who were at fault. How can I be held responsible for a patient that was shifted against my advice to an unauthorised OT and when my junior resident gave anesthesia against my advice? My best efforts helped revive the patient who was then shifted to the ICU," the resident doctor stated in the complaint.

The complaint further went on to add that no action was taken by the committees against the Obstetrics and Gynaecology consultant and resident doctors who ordered Kaur`s surgery in an ill-equipped operation theatre and did not ensure the mother`s safety.

"Discrimination clearly shows in the action taken by AIIMS. Gynecology Consultant Seema Singhal was on duty that day. Just because she is the wife of Manish Singhal, head of Plastic Surgery and Chief Administrative Officer of AIIMS...can the committee explain why she cannot be terminated for dereliction of her duty," reads the letter.

Nisa, who was working with the anesthesia department of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, belongs to the Angami tribe of Nagaland.

To discuss the said matter, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has written to the Union health secretary and AIIMS director asking them to be personally present on April 19 in the discussion regarding sacking of a senior resident.

The NCST had earlier also urged the AIIMS to submit facts and information on the action taken on the allegations in the case.

In a reply filed by AIIMS, the hospital stated

"AIIMS had conducted two inquiries regarding the death of the nursing officer as well as her baby post-delivery. The inquiry report of the high-level committee chaired by AIIMS Director took the decision to issue a termination order to N. Nisa. He was given an opportunity of hearing before the inquiry committee and his representation was duly considered,"

Rajbir Kaur, 28, a nursing officer with AIIMS' medicine department, she had been admitted to AIIMS for a normal delivery on January 16. Hours before the delivery, doctors found that the heart beat of the fetus was slow, thus immediately taking the patient for an emergency cesarean. Family members of the nurse alleged that the anesthetist arrived late, delaying the surgery.

In February 2017, AIIMS terminated services of a Senior Resident doctor and initiated disciplinary action against three others in connection with the death of a pregnant nurse.

AIIMS Deputy Director V Sriniavs said the senior resident, Anaesthesiology, was found guilty of "wilful absence" and reached the operation theater nearly an hour late.

Read also: AIIMS nurse death: Sr Anaesthesia terminated, 3 others face action