1 week Ago By Steffy Thevar
Pune: The state govt's inquiry committee indicted the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital citing the "golden hour" treatment protocol in connection with the woman's death after she was allegedly denied treatment . The committee's preliminary report submitted to the govt on Friday stated that it appeared the hospital did not follow the golden hour treatment protocol . It recommended that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) must take action against the facility under the Nursing Home Registration Act on this ground.
The committee found the hospital violating multiple acts and not following the Indian Medical Council's (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002. The report mentioned that all charitable hospitals must provide a patient in emergency all essential treatment till stabilistion under the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950. According to norms, a charitable hospital must arrange transportation of the patient to a public hospital, if necessary, and must not ask for any deposit in case of admission of emergency patients.
The committee's report mentioned that Deenanth Mangeshkar Hospital had violated all these. So, it recommended that the Charity Commission must take appropriate action against the hospital. The victim, Tanisha alias Ishwari Bhise, had gone to Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital on March 28.
After the hospital allegedly told her relatives to deposit money for her admission, the preganant woman was shifted to another healthcare facility. She delivered twins there on March 29. She was shifted another health hub after her condition deteriorated, where she died on March 31.
Political parties' protest over Bhise's death rocked Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital on April 4. The state govt constituted the inquiry committee the same day to probe into her death. The panel's report mentioned that the deceased woman was not given any preliminary treatment during the five-and-a-half hours she waited in the hospital's OPD in violation of the Maharashtra Nursing Homes Registration Act, 2021.
The panel found that the hospital violated the norms under the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct Etiquette and Ethics) Regulation, 2002, which clearly mentions that a case summary should be given to the specialist by the attending physician when referring a patient to a specialist. The report also stated that the Denanath Mangeshkar Hospital's grievance redressal system, charity unit and the public relations office failed to provide proper consultation or guidance to the patient's relatives about the Charity Commission scheme. A maternal death review committee would be set up by the health department to find out the cause of postnatal death of Bhise.
Dr Rajesh Dighe, assistant health officer, PMC, a part of the maternal death review committee, said, "Our primary job will be to find out the cause of the woman's death so that the system can be improved. The type of delay has been established by the committee." After the report of the govt-appointed committee came out on Monday, Congress member Vijay Wadettiwar demanded the state register a criminal offence against the doctor concerned and the hospital administration.
"The doctor concerned tried to save himself by resigning, but why is the state govt still not acting against him? We strongly demand a police case be registered against the doctor and the management responsible for the death of the woman," Wadettiwar said. Pune commissioner of police (CP) Amitesh Kumar said, "The criminal part in the entire case is yet to be established. We can comment only after receiving the two remaining reports of the authorities.
We will act according to the suggestions and directions of the government-appointed committees." Deputy commissioner of police (Zone III) Sambhaji Kadam said, "As of now, we have received only one report, which does not specify the criminal element in the case. We will wait for the two other reports and further direction from the government.
" Dr Yellapa Jadhav, the medical superintendent of Sassoon General Hospital, said, "I got a call from DCP Kadam regarding the investigation for medical negligence. Once we get a letter, we will set up a committee comprising the heads of the gynecology department, forensic medicine department and the medicine department, along with the medical superintendent. This committee will only review the documents submitted and determine if there was any medical negligence.
" (With inputs from Anurag Bende & Gitesh Shelke).
