Dog Dialysis at SSKM Hospital: After MCI reprimand, WB governor asks health department to remove WBUHS Vice Chancellor

West Bengal: Following the MCI reprimand in the controversial matter of the attempt of dialysis on a dog at the SSKM Hospital, the West Bengal Governor has now written to the state Health Department to take appropriate action into the demands for the removal of vice-chancellor of WBUHS Dr Rajendra Pandey for his alleged professional misconduct.

Confirmation to this effect was made to media persons here by officials said on 19th December.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported about the entire controversial case that erupted in 2015 after the West Bengal Medical Council's president, Dr Nirmal Majhi had allegedly referred a relative's dog for dialysis at the state-run SSKM Hospital.

It is reported that Dr Majhi referred the dog to the nephrology department of SSKM Hospital and following up to Maji's request, nephrology department head Dr Rajendra Pandey forwarded the matter to hospital's director Dr Pradeep Mitra. "An unidentified dog advised for hemo-dialysis," the note to Mitra stated

The dialysis which was planned but not carried out after objections poured in from the various doctors at the hospital, stating that the hospital is meant for humans, not canines. Amidst all the controversy Dr Mitra was soon transferred from the post of director at the hospital.

The governor is the Chancellor of all state universities including West Bengal University of Health Sciences (WBUHS). The Governor's secretariat had written to the Health department to take appropriate action into the demands for removal of Pandey from the post of WBUHS vice-chancellor, officials said.

In a communication dated December 16, 2019, to the joint secretary in the state health and family welfare department, of the Governor's secretariat said, "for kind attention and appropriate action into the matter".