Pune Doctor booked over death of patient due to negligence

Pune: A case of medical negligence has been registered against a neuropsychiatrist and the staff of Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre at Hadapsar after the death of a patient. 

The deceased has been identified as 18-year-old Aditya Rajendra Satpute, a resident of the Kalepadal area of Hadapsar. The police have booked the doctor and the hospital staff.

The history of the incident goes back to October 10, 2020, when Aditya was admitted to the centre for a psychological disorder after he tried to take his own life. The mother of the deceased, 39-year-old Savita Satpute blamed the doctor and the hospital staff for not taking appropriate measures after knowing about his past incidents. Aditya again committed suicide in the hospital by jumping from the fourth floor of the hospital building. Savita alleged that the hospital staff forced Aditya not to inform his family members.

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Later, Savita went to the police station and registered the case under Sections 304 (A) (death due to negligence), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 34 (a criminal act is done by several persons in furtherance of the common intention) of the Indian Penal Code against the doctor identified as Dr Amar Shinde and the hospital staff who has been recently booked by the police.

Arvind Gokule, a senior police inspector at Hadapsar police station told HT "After the initial investigation we have registered a case against the neuropsychiatrist and hospital staff. Considering the patient's previous suicidal attempt history, the hospital and its staff should have taken proper care while treating such a patient."

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Soumitra Pathare, consultant psychiatrist, and director of the Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy said "There is a difference between mistake and negligence. We have to maintain a balance between them. For every psychological patient with a history of suicidal attempts, risk assessment is necessary. Patients have been categorised under high risk, medium risk and moderate risk and a further line of treatment have been defined. But this risk assessment is also not full proof. We can mitigate risk but can't avoid it completely. In case of 'gross negligence' action will be taken against the concerned doctor. It is not good to speak about this particular case as I do not have all the details."

Denying all the allegations, Dr Shinde said, "These are baseless allegations, police have visited the hospital and done an inquiry about the incident. The patient's family members are threatening me and demanding money.''