DMC bars pathologist from practice for a year

As punishment for his unprofessional and casual attitude towards patients, the Delhi Medical Council (DMC) has barred Dr Rakesh Kumar Bhatnagar, a pathologist working in Delhi, from its state medical register.

The Council has barred the pathologist from medical practice for a year for selling his name and signature to a pathology laboratory, which did not have the requisite infrastructure.

The accused is a former professor of Delhi premier medical college.

The matter was raised by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Mayur Vihar), who during field visits came across the pathology lab Health Scope Path Lab in East Delhi's Kondli. The lab, being run by the technician-cum-owner Aditya Kumar Jha, was found to be in a shabby condition.

"On enquiry, the owner of the lab informed the SDM that he pays Rs 2,500 per month to pathologist Dr Rakesh Kumar Bhatnagar for using his scanned signature," said DMC secretary Girish Tyagi.

"It was alleged that Bhatnagar has been indulging in professional misconduct by issuing pathology reports under his signature, without supervising the conduction of pathology/biochemical tests or visiting the pathology lab where reports were issued," said Tyagi.

Initially, Bhatnagar's name was removed from the state medical register of the DMC for a period of 180 days.

It was later extended to 365 days, as he was found to be a repeat offender and had previously been found guilty of professional misconduct twice, which has led to his suspension twice.