Delhi govt seeks action against medical officer

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has sought suspension of the casualty medical officer of the Chacha Nehru Hospital and disciplinary action against its director due to their negligence of a minor rape survivor, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Monday.

The minor's family sought admission at the hospital on Saturday evening but the officials allegedly neither admitted her nor helped the family to shift her to another hospital.

"Delhi government recommended suspension of the casualty medical officer of the Chacha Nehru Super Speciality Hospital and disciplinary action against its director," Jain said.

He added that the city government has written to Lt Governor Anil Baijal in this connection.

The health department has also directed the Directorate General Of Health Services (DGHS) to inquire into the incident. The preliminary report with the aforementioned recommendations was submitted, Jain said.

He alleged that the casualty medical officer did not follow the laid down norms or protocols pertaining to a victim of rape. After analysing the report, Jain found that the doctors were capable of doing the treatment.

"The victim should have been treated in the hospital itself and should not have been referred to LNJP Hospital," he asserted. However, LNJP Hospital treated the victim well and she was released the next morning, the minister said.

The Delhi government also noted that these officials did not arrange any ambulance for the kid and not did any cooperation with the family.

"Even while referring, a CATS ambulance should have been used and a woman doctor or an attendant should have accompanied the victim.There was grave negligence on the part of the casualty medical officer and the director," he said.

Jain said, "We are continuously training the officials regarding how to deal with these issues. If they ignore the patients then the government will take action."

After getting the information from the hospitals, Jain ordered a detailed report from the officials on Sunday itself. After studying the report he learned that the officials neglected the patient without proper reasons.

The five-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a peon inside the premises of a private school in Shahdara in east Delhi on Saturday. The police arrested the accused on Saturday.