IPC 304A: Fortis Cardiologist Booked on NOT following Golden Hour Management of Heart Attack

The board held that the doctors did not administer anti-platelet treatment as per protocol.

Gurugram: FIR under IPC Section 304A has been filed against two doctors associated with the Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI) including its Chief Cardiologist after a medical board found them prima facie responsible for "delay in proper treatment" of a 51-year-old woman who died of cardiac arrest at the hospital

TOI reports about the incident about a 51-year-old Physiotherapist who was brought to the hospital on 12th May 2017 with complaints of chest pain around 1.35 am. An ECG was performed on her which showed abnormalities. Doctors informed her family that an Angiography shall be performed on her around 9 am in the morning.

However, during the night her condition kept on deteriorating and around 5 am in the morning, she was out on life support. The patient was finally declared dead around 9.48 am in the morning.

Accusing the doctors of negligence and in particular wasting the golden hour, her husband filed a complaint against the doctors and Fortis hospital with the police. A medical board was set up to initiate a probe and look into the allegations.

The medical board, in its report, held the chief cardiologist at the hospital Dr SS Murthy and the resident doctor Dr V Naga Raju prima facie responsible for "delay in proper treatment". In particular, the board held that the doctors did not administer anti-platelet treatment as per protocol. It is reported that later an angiography was performed on the patient that revealed 100% blockage in her left anterior descending artery.

The board held Dr Raju, the emergency duty doctor guilty on account of ignoring the report of the patient’s cardiac enzymes that had apparently prescribed medicines to prevent a heart attack. TOI reports that during the probe the duty doctor admitted that he did not administer anti-platelets.

Dr Murthy in his defense stated that he had directed the resident cardiologist at the hospital to "provide all necessary treatment." around 2.15 am, but the board observed that proper treatment was not given, as revealed by the hospital records

Based on the medical board’s report, an FIR has been filed under Section 304 of the IPC (causing death by negligence) by the Sushant Lok Police. Millenium Post reveals that the police may charge even more staff members in the course of the investigation

“We are informed that an FIR has been lodged in connection with Seema Ghai’s death. We assure (the authorities concerned) of complete assistance and cooperation. We are saddened by the loss and our sympathies go out to the family,” Fortis said in a statement.