Goa;‘It’s 7.30 pm. Too late. Can’t come to OT’

‘It’s 7.30 pm. Too late. Can’t come to OT’
Kidney Patient Rushed Out Of GMC To Pvt Hospital As Anaesthetist Plays Truant
Preetu Nair | TNN

Panaji: Ramesh Rawal a 65-year-old kidney patient had to be rushed out of the Goa Medical College hospital and operated in a private hospital, as the government anaesthetist refused to attend to the patient, stating that it was “too late”.The patient, who was brought from Maharashtra was admitted to the urology department at GMC, complaining of urine retention. As his condition deteriorated with danger of his kidney collapsing, the doctors decided on an emergency procedure and securing permission from the dean of the GMC, the surgery was fixed for 7.30 pm.
However, as the anaesthetist refused to attend to the patient, he had to be taken to a private hospital in Panaji, where he was operated upon and brought back to GMC, for post-operative treatment, before being discharged.Admitting this happened, GMC dean, Dr V N Jindal played down the situation saying, “Yes, a patient had to be shifted out of GMC and was operated in a private hospital. But it was due to a little misunderstanding. The matter is
settled now.”
Before returning to his home state, the patient lodged a complaint with the directorate of Health Services, based on which, the government has initiated an inquiry against associate professor of anaesthesiology Dr Shaila Kamat, who had refused to attend to the patient, and anaesthesiology department head Dr Marilyn Nazareth.
Sources in the health department confirmed this and said that the doctors had not only put a patient’s life at risk but also violated the Hippocratic Oath. The Hippocratic Oath that every doctor takes states: “I will follow that method of treatment which according to my ability and judgement, I consider for the benefit of my patient and abstain from whatever is harmful or mischievous.”
“If the case is high risk, then the anaesthetist can refuse to attend to the patient after examining the patient or it can even be a case of mere neglect. But the GMC dean is the best person to handle it,” added Disciplinary and Ethics committee chairman of Goa Medical Council Dr Ulhas Karpe.
(Patient’s name changed to protect identity)

June 20, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition