Won't apologise for standing up for patient denied care: Goa Health minister Vishwajit Rane
Panaji, Jun 8 (PTI): Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has defended his decision to order suspension of a doctor from a state-run hospital, citing the latter's "arrogant behaviour" towards a patient.
The minister on Saturday said he will not apologise for standing up for a patient who was denied care.
Rane said he took the action after receiving a complaint from a senior journalist who pointed out that his mother-in-law was mistreated by the doctor in the casualty ward of the Goa Medical College and Hospital.
The GMCH, located at Bambolim near here, is a state-run hospital with more than 1,000 beds. It provides medical services to patients from Goa as well as from nearby areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Its Chief Medical Officer Dr Rudresh Kurtikar was fired in public view and later ordered to be suspended by Rane after he "lost his cool" during his surprise visit to the GMCH on Saturday.
Later, talking to reporters on Saturday evening, Rane said "Yes, as the health minister, I did intervene and I accept that my tone and words could have been more measured. I am not above reflection or criticism. I take full responsibility for how I communicated, and I assure you such an approach will not be repeated."
"However, what I will not apologise for is standing up for a patient who was denied care," the minister said.
Doctors hold a noble position in the society, and most of them at the GMCH serve with great dedication, he noted.
"But when arrogance seeps into duty, when compassion is replaced with indifference, it is my responsibility to take action," Rane said.
The minister was reacting to criticism he faced on social media and also by the Indian Medical Association against his act of firing the CMO on duty.
"Over the last few hours, a lot has been said and written about an incident at the Goa Medical College today and the suspension of a doctor on duty. I feel it is important to address this directly, not just as your health minister, but as someone deeply committed to ensuring that no citizen is ever denied basic medical care, especially the elderly who deserve our utmost respect and attention," he said.
Rane said he had received a message from a family member of a senior citizen, who was already in pain and advised to receive daily injections, about how she was refused the same at the medical college's casualty ward on a public holiday.
"What made the matter worse was that the casualty (ward) had minimal patient load at the time, and yet, a simple act of compassion and care was withheld. I found this deeply upsetting," he said.
Rane said often the outrage is highlighted on same media platforms and by the public when things go wrong at the GMCH.
But when corrective action is taken, it is equally important that "we support efforts to fix the system, not tear them down," he commented.
The minister said what he did was in defence of a helpless, elderly woman.
"And I will continue to speak up, act and fight for the rights of every patient who walks into our hospital," he asserted.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
23-year-old woman found dead at Delhi home; suicide suspected
New Delhi (PTI): A 23-year-old woman was found dead in her house in Delhi's Prem Nagar area, with police suspecting it to be a case of suicide, an official said on Tuesday.
The deceased, identified as Anjali Singh, was found motionless in her room on Monday by her sister and her neighbour.
Police said her father, Vinod Kumar Singh (51), told them that he and his wife were away at work at the time of the incident, while their son and the other daughter were also not at home at the time of the incident.
ALSO READ: Koppal: Worms found in midday meal at Ningapur Government School
According to the family, the room in which Anjali was found was locked from the inside. The door was later forcibly opened by a neighbour and her sister with the help of a crowbar.
Her body was found lying on the bed inside the room, police said.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that Anjali had allegedly hanged herself using a piece of cloth tied to the ceiling fan.
It is suspected that the noose eventually might have loosened or torn off, resulting in her being found lying on the bed.
Family members informed the police that Anjali was a final-year student of a librarian science course from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). About a week ago, her final-year examination results were declared, and she had failed, following which she had been under depression, they said.
The family has not raised any allegation of foul play, police said, adding that no suicide note or external injury marks were found on the body during the initial inspection.
Inquest proceedings have been initiated in the matter as per the law. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death, and further investigation is underway, police added.
