Negligence during Gall Bladder Surgery: MCI upholds 15 day Suspension of Surgeon, Anesthetist

The patient was shifted to Jaipur Golden Hospital but, the complaint also said that after being admitted to the Jaipur Golden Hospital, the doctors there too did not start immediate treatment as the patient was not in a good condition.

Alleging negligence, the husband of the deceased then filed a complaint with the Delhi Police, the Delhi Government as well as wrote a letter to the then Assam CM Tarun Gogoi asking for intervention.

Read Also: Assam professor dies in Delhi Hospital. Family alleges medical negligence

The matter was then forwarded to the Delhi Medical council which after going through the details held negligence on part of two doctors. The Delhi Medical Council had observed:

It is observed that pre-anesthetic check-up and preparation of the patient was not proper. It is noted that no anaesthesia chart was maintained which is a vital document during the surgery; as such this basic document apparently is not kept in the said Hospital. It is noted that intra-operative recordings of the vitals were not maintained. As per the anaesthetist, the intra-operative anaesthesia events were recorded by him after the surgery was concluded. In laparoscopic cholecystectomy ETCO2 and airway pressure monitoring is imperative as per American Society of Anesthesiologists guidelines (standard protocol guidelines).  The anaesthetist  did not monitor airway pressure or ETCO2.  Similarily, even the weight of the patient was not recorded.  The anesthetic records are bereft of the essential vital parameters which are to be maintained during the surgery viz. intra-operative Blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, temperature charting.  It is apparent that the operation-theater at the said Hospital was not equipped to monitor end Tidal CO2.

DMC also observed that the cardiologist was called 8 hours after the patient had suffered an attack

Holding negligence on part of the operating surgeon and the anaesthetist, DMC directed removal of their name from the state medical register for a period of 15 days.

The case was later examined by MCI at the appeal filed by the husband expressing dissatisfaction over the DMC order passed on June 16, 2017. MCI in its recent meeting upheld the DMC order.

"The ethical sub-committee of the Medical Council of India concluded that there is no infirmity in the order of the Delhi Medical Council and therefore, decided to uphold the order," stated the issued order.