On instructions from the Delhi Secretariat, an associate professor of cardiology working on a contract basis at the Delhi government’s Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital was fired after the deaths of three patients with heart blockage earlier this month.
On the recommendation of appropriate authority, hereby orders the immediate termination of services of Dr Praveen Singh, associate professor (cardiology) currently working on contract basis in Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty hospital,” the government’s health and family department said in an order.
On March 10, action was taken against the doctor, and a committee was formed to look into the situation. Dr. Sanjay Aggarwal, hospital medical director, explained why the doctor was fired, saying, “The order came from the Delhi Secretariat, not the hospital.” The causes can be discussed with the secretariat.”
Dr. Singh has not responded to calls for comment.
The health department’s officials could not be reached for comment.
On Monday, the four-member committee met for the second time and has yet to submit a report to the administration. The committee is currently looking into claims of “medical negligence.” “There has been no conclusion as of yet; physicians are researching the problem,” one of the members, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said.
Dr. M. A. Geelani, professor of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery at GB Pant Hospital; Dr. Ranjit Kumar Nath, head of the department of cardiology at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital; Dr. Girish MP, professor of cardiology at GB Pant Hospital; and Dr. Ankit Bansal, assistant professor of cardiology at GB Pant Hospital comprise the committee.
The three patients were quite unwell, according to doctors at the hospital, and were transported to the cath lab for stenting. They stated that two of the three patients died prior to the stent being implanted.
Stenting is a treatment that involves inserting a cylindrical hollow mesh into a clogged vessel in order to open it up. Doctors attempt to shorten the door to needle time in an emergency circumstance, such as when a patient is experiencing a heart attack, since the longer the blockage continues, the more the heart muscle is injured.
