Ahmedabad Cardiologist jailed for unindicated cardiology procedures gets NMC relief

Ahmedabad: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has stayed the Gujarat Medical Council's (GMC) order debarring the registration of the cardiologist currently in jail for being the key accused in the Khyati Hospital scam case. The doctor was accused of performing botched angioplasty procedures on seven patients, of which two patients succumbed to post-operative complications. 

As per the Times of India report, the apex regulatory body issued an order on April 10 putting a hold on the medical council's decision move to debar Dr Prashant Vazirani from medical practice for three years. The NMC referred to a previous 2022 judgment by the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court in a similar case, saying that immediate action could cause “irreparable harm” to the doctor before his appeal is fully heard.

However, the move has drawn objections from the medical council members, who pointed out that the action against Dr Vazirani was initiated based on the evidence that proved his wrongdoings and taking note of a serious complaint filed by the state government itself. They reasoned that the NMC's decision is 'not in the right spirit.'

Challenging this recent decision, the medical council officials will likely approach the apex regulatory body with details of the probe committee report for further consideration. 

Also read- PMJAY Botched Angioplasty Case: Court denies bail to Khyati Hospital Director

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that last year in November, two patients, who attended a free medical camp organised by Khyati Hospital under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), passed away due to postoperative complications following Angioplasty procedures.

This incident caused widespread outrage as an angioplasty was performed at the hospital on 19 patients, and two of them died, while 5 others were kept on ventilation. These 19 people were brought to Khyati Hospital by ambulance for treatment after they attended the free health checkup camp in Borisna village of Kadi taluka on November 10. Around 80 to 90 people were examined at the camp.

Following this, three FIRs were registered, two at the behest of the kin of the deceased and one by a doctor from the Government-appointed panel. During the investigations, it was revealed that the hospital performed unnecessary angioplasty procedures on several PMJAY cardholders just to siphon off government money. The inquiry committee constituted by the State government in its preliminary probe found that the deceased did not require the heart procedure.

Dr Prashant Vazirani was the doctor who reportedly who carried out the said surgeries. Following this, he was arrested along with hospital CEO Rahul Jain, marketing director Chirag Rajput, marketing executive Milind Patel and his two assistants, Pankil Patel and Pratik Bhatt, and directors Rajshree Kothari and Sanjay Patolia.

Following his arrest, the medical council decided to debar his registration for three years in November 2024, which means the removal of his name from the council's list of registered doctors. Challenging this decision, Dr Vazirani filed an appeal to the NMC in December 2024. The appeal is still pending a final decision, and the next hearing will take place at the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the NMC.

Now, with the NMC's reprieve to the doctor, the medical council sources told Times of India, "Dr Vazirani, along with others, was thoroughly probed by experts from institutions such as the state govt-funded UN Mehta Cardiology Hospital and was found to have indulged in procedural lapses. Extensive changes were made by the state health department for PM-JAY-affiliated hospitals in light of the case."

Dr Chetan Patel, Vice President of the Gujarat Medical Council, told TOI, "The decision to bar Dr Vazirani was based on the evidence of his involvement in the deaths of patients after angioplasty performed by him at Khyati Hospital. We have received the order, and we will study it. The hearing on Dr Vazirani's appeal will take place at EMRB, after which the final decision will be taken by NMC."

"The GMC took action on Dr Vazirani after a serious complaint filed by the state government itself in the Khyati Hospital case. NMC stay is not in the right spirit. Dr Vazirani is still lodged in Sabarmati Central Jail and is not granted bail," said Dr Bhavin Kothari, a senior member of GMC for two decades.

After NMC stayed the Gujarat Medical Council’s (GMC) order debarring Dr Prashant Vazirani, the council is now preparing to move the NMC by presenting detailed findings of its probe.

TOI sources close to the development said that many in the medical council believe the stay will set a wrong precedent, especially when Dr Vazirani, who is still behind bars, has been accused of grave medical misconduct.

According to a chargesheet filed by the crime branch before a judicial magistrate first class (JMFC), Dr Vazirani was not registered on the PM-JAY scheme’s HEM portal but still performed angiographies and angioplasties under the government scheme at Khyati Hospital. 

"The procedures were performed as part of a conspiracy, for which he brought in 19 patients to the hospital from the free health checkup camp at Borisana village on November 10, 2024. He received payments for the procedures from the hospital. There was no medical requirement or reason to perform procedures on the 19 patients in the absence of their relatives or without obtaining their consent. He conducted angiographies as part of the conspiracy under the instructions from the hospital's chairman and directors," stated the chargesheet. 

The investigation report further stated that out of 19 patients, seven did not have blockages and yet the cardiologist prepared heart diagrams showing 70% to 90% blockages and uploaded them on the PM-JAY portal.

"By creating panic that the blockages would require immediate intervention, otherwise they would suffer a heart attack, he got signatures from seven such patients on consent forms to place stents, and conducted angioplasty on them. By doing so, the accused doctor bypassed fundamental principles and moral values of medical practice and unnecessarily implanted stents, causing the death of two patients," mentioned the chargesheet. 

Also read- Ayushman Card Scam: Khyati Hospital Chairman sent to 6 days police remand