The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) has suspended the registration of a Pune-based doctor for a period of three months, after finding him guilty of “gross medical negligence” over the death of a patient he treated about three-and-half years ago. Dr Srihari Dhore Patil, a registered medical practitioner (RMP) and owner of a multispeciality hospital in Pune was punished after the council members unanimously agreed on the decision, the council said in an announcement.
The MMC acted on a complaint of Balchandra Nalawade, resident of Nerul in Navi Mumbai, who alleged that it was due to the gross negligence and casual attitude of the doctor who had operated upon his wife Asha Balchandara Nalawade (48) at Shree Hospital in Pune for obesity that resulted in her death.
The complainant told the council that on December 21, 2009 the surgery was conducted on her and she was in the hospital till December 25, 2009. After discharge, she had complained of uneasiness and severe pain in the abdomen and was again admitted to a hospital on the December 31, 2009. She was discharged the next day, only to be readmitted to the hospital on January 3, 2010 and she died the following day, he said.
The patient was taken to Maken Hospital and later to Jehangir Hospital as her condition worsened and complications increased during this period. She died at Jehangir Hospital under the care of Dr Patil, the council was further informed. A committee of medical experts from Pune was appointed to investigate the causes for the death of the patient, which also submitted its report to the council. “As far as the surgery is concerned, there is no negligence on part of the RMP. However, the post-operative care which ought to have been taken, does not seem to have been proper,” the council noted.
Further, the council said, Dr Patil failed to refer for post-mortem to determine the exact cause of death.
The doctor, who appeared before the council, made a written submission where he denied the allegation calling it concocted for gaining sympathy and pity out of the untimely death of the complainant’s wife.