The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Doctors indicted for undertrial’s death

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 07, 2007
ePaper

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Doctors indicted for undertrial’s death

Staff Reporter

Drugs given without clinical examination, reports panel

HYDERABAD: How casual can doctors be, when it comes to handling ailing prisoners, has come to light. Crass negligence by the medical officers of Central Prison in Hyderabad cost an inmate his life. Hyderabad Collector, R.V. Chandravadan, who conducted an inquiry into the death has recommended deterrent action against the doctors.

A departmental committee constituted by Mr. Chandravadan, showed that the doctor administered drugs to Yerra Masaiah, a remand prisoner, without clinical examination and ascertaining cause of illness. Masaiah, 19, was facing murder charges and was remanded to prison on December 20, 2005. On January 19, 2006 he was given Chloroquin and Paracetamol tablets when he complained of fever. The next day he was admitted to the jail hospital when he developed breathlessness. There he was given Deriphyllin and Decadron injections. Within hours, a profusely sweating Masaiah was shifted to the Osmania General Hospital with a weak pulse and fluid emanating from nose. He died the same day at the hospital.

Taking cognisance of the case, the Collector immediately constituted a committee under G.O. 465 comprising Dr. V.S. Prasanna Kumar Reddy, Dr. Ch. Jaya Kumari, Dr. Gandaiah and Dr. A. Deepak Raj. In its report the committee said the medical report of doctors of Central Prison and the post-mortem examination report were contradictory. It also wondered how the cause of death could be given as natural without mentioning the name of the disease. “It appears Masaiah died of infection of lungs and kidney”, the committee observed.

The committee held Dr. T. Bala Raju of Central Prison guilty of negligence in examining and giving treatment and Dr. C.R. Rama Reddy, professor, Forensic Medicine, OMC, of negligence in giving cause of death.

In view of the committee’s findings, the Collector has written to the Government recommending action against the negligent doctors. “This is a classic case of negligence and perfunctory discharge of sacred medical duties by responsible doctors”, he said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh