Death of 47-year-old man: CM Kejriwal orders action against four doctors for turning away patient

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced stringent action against four doctors days after the death of a 47-year-old man, who was allegedly denied treatment at state-run government hospitals. 

Kejriwal has approved a health department proposal to take stringent action against four doctors days after the death of an injured man, who was allegedly denied medical assistance. 

The proposal has now been forwarded to Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena for approval, according to a statement issued here on Monday.

Pramod, 47, who was arrested after a 21-year-old woman alleged that he had molested her in an inebriated state, died of the injuries he suffered after jumping out of a moving police van on January 3, a senior officer had said earlier.

Medical Dialogues team reported that Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said the city government has sought an explanation from three state-run hospitals following allegations that a man succumbed after being denied treatment, ruing that he could have saved had the Dilli Ke Farishte scheme been functional.

According to the statement issued on Monday, the chief minister has sanctioned the Delhi health department’s proposal for swift and rigorous measures against the four doctors, who “callously” refused medical assistance to the patient.

The proposal demanded strict action, citing a “complete lack of empathy and professionalism” on the doctors’ part.

Kejriwal has forwarded the proposal to the LG, the statement added.

The health department proposed the dismissal of a doctor at the Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) hospital and another from the Lok Nayak (LNJP) hospital. It also sought the suspension of two more doctors from the hospitals.

After the January 3 incident, the Delhi government initiated action against the doctors. The medical directors of these hospitals were issued show-cause notices and a thorough investigation was conducted. The investigation report has found a lack of empathy and professionalism among the medical officials involved in this entire case, the statement said.