Medical Board in Chandigarh to investigate medical negligence complaints
The new medical board is slated to look into complaints against all doctors and hospitals, irrespective of government, private, semi-government, or autonomous set-up despite an already pre-established mechanism for investigating complaints made only against government doctors and hospitals.
Chandigarh: The Chandigarh health department recently set up a 'Medical Board for Negligence' with an aim to investigate reports of negligence complaints made against doctors and hospitals in the UT (Union Territory).
The new medical board is slated to look into complaints against all doctors and hospitals, irrespective of government, private, semi-government, or autonomous set-up, despite an already pre-established mechanism for investigating complaints made only against government doctors and hospitals.
The director-principal of GMCH-32 would be chairing the board, and the members comprise the director, health and family welfare, UT; medical superintendent, PGIMER (or nominee); one member from the district Indian Medical Association; a subject specialist/HoD of specialty related to the complaint (to be nominated by GMCH-32 director); and a subject specialist from the department of AYUSH in case of a complaint related to AYUSH (to be nominated by the director, AYUSH). In addition, the medical superintendent of GMSH-16 would be a member secretary of the board.
UT health secretary Yashpal Garg told the Hindustan Times, "The board has been constituted in line with the Supreme Court orders passed in the Jacob Mathew case of 2005 and orders passed by the Punjab and Haryana high court in 2014. The board will be empowered to call and seek the assistance of anybody or any record associated with the complaint. It will also have the power to inspect the premises as per need of the case."
According to Garg, the investigating officers are required to acquire an independent and competent medical opinion from the board in cases of doctors accused of rash acts or medical negligence so that they could get an unbiased opinion from the board. Stating that action would be taken against the doctor or hospital administration if they are found guilty, Garg said, "Any person who has a grievance of medical negligence against government/private doctors or hospitals in Chandigarh can move an application to the 'member secretary' of the board for investigation."
