Dharamsala: A gynaecologist in government hospital who allegedly performed family planning surgeries at a camp in Mandi district in a drunken state has been placed under suspension, the state Assembly was told on Thursday.
Yesterday, the doctor has performed 5 surgeries at the camp in Thunag area in the Mandi district and then fell asleep, leaving the sixth patient (who was administered anaesthesia) on the operation table.
"We have placed the doctor under suspension for negligence and have ordered an inquiry into the incident by a District Programme Officer at Mandi and strict action would be taken after the enquiry report is submitted", Health and Family Welfare Minister Kaul Singh Thakur informed Vidhan Sabha today.
As many 67 women had registered for the operation, out of which 30 had already been administered initial Atropin injection, given before anaesthesia, and the government has ordered an enquiry, he added.
Replying to a calling attention motion by BJP member from Seraj, Jai Ram Thakur, the health minister said that it was a matter of luck that all the women, who underwent surgeries were fine and there was no complication on any count.
He said the medical examination of the doctor had was drunk but the quantity of liquor taken?by him was small.
The minister said the gynaecologist was posted at Mandi hospital in 2008 in the previous BJP regime and the same doctor had earlier performed surgeries in camps at different places in Mandi district and all were successful.
"We have zero tolerance for any kind of negligence by the doctors and para medics as it can cost life," he said.
Referring to ?an earlier incident of a death in Mandi hospital, wherein a patient was administered anaesthesia by a doctor in drunken state, Kaul Singh said ?"We had transferred the doctor immediately and got the injection tested from Kolkata lab.
"The injection was found sub-standard, following which we withdrew the entire stock and initiated penal action against the company."
The Health Minister said the state had been adjudged the best in the health services in the country and the health indicators were also good in Himachal.
"We are continuously trying to update the services in all areas, without any discrimination. In two years, the cabinet has sanctioned 300 posts of doctors for better performance," he said.
Moving the calling attention motion, Jai Ram Thakur said that it was a serious issue as it could have cost lives.
He said the doctor should be penalised for performing the duty in drunken state and alleged that the said gynaecologist had reportedly been behaving in the same manner earlier also and the Chief Minister Office should not have put him on the job.
