5 Punjab doctors booked for alleged fake COVID report, Medical Council begins probe

Amritsar: Taking cognizance of alleged wrong Covid-19 report issued to a patient by five doctors attached to Tuli Diagnostic Centre and EMC Hospital, the Punjab Medical Council has recently constituted a special inquiry committee to probe the matter. 

As per a recent report by the HT, five medical practitioners and the hospital owner were booked by the vigilance bureau on June 25, 2020, on charges of attempt to murder, fraud, criminal conspiracy, and corruption for issuing the wrong reports for Covid-19. The license of these doctors may be suspended or cancelled depending on the violations if they are found guilty.

In the backdrop, the Bureau had found seven persons, including a pregnant woman doctor, who were issued wrong reports of COVID infection. The issue came into light after five Amritsar residents, including a pregnant woman doctor, were diagnosed COVID-positive following tests at Tuli Diagnostic Centre, but later tested negative when re-tests were conducted at Government Medical College.

The committee so constituted includes Dr SPS Sooch, Dr Sushil Sehgal, and Dr Jasmine Dahiya as members of the special inquiry committee. Commenting on the incident, the Council stated that this is "apparent unethical act on part of the doctors and violation of the code of ethics."

Also Read: Punjab: 10,000 Doctors Observe Medical Bandh Against Clinical Establishment Ordinance

Dr AS Sekhon, president of the council, told HT, "The committee will probe all aspects of these incidents. It will take around 90 days to complete the inquiry. We have sought the help of Amritsar deputy commissioner and principal of Government Medical College to expedite the inquiry."

"Their license can be suspended or canceled depending on the violations," he added.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported a similar case of false COVID-19 report, wherein, blaming the private laboratory for providing an incorrect COVID positive report, a city-based lawyer had sent a legal notice to SRL Diagnostics, seeking compensation to the tune of Rs 99 lakh for sending her the "wrong report" that caused mental trauma.

Also Read: SRL Lab Asked To Pay Rs 99 Lakh Compensation For Allegedly Wrongly Diagnosing Lawyer With COVID