‘Unjust’: Pune Medical Fraternity Reacts As MMC Starts Probe Against Dr Sushrut Ghaisas In Tanisha Bhise Death Case

The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) has begun an inquiry against Dr Sushrut Ghaisas, the treating doctor of 37-year-old Tanisha Bhise, who died last month after allegedly being denied treatment at Pune's Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital (DMH).

The MMC took suo motu cognisance of the case and issued a show-cause notice to Dr Ghaisas. The council sought an explanation from the doctor regarding the incident. However, he wasn't able to be present, as a case has been filed against him at the Alankar Police Station under Section 106(1) (death caused by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Meanwhile, the medical fraternity in Pune has called the probe against Dr Ghaisas "unjust."

Dr Abhijit More, a health activist, said, "Everybody is quick to blame the doctor. An FIR has been filed against him, but action should also be taken against the hospital administration and management. In this case, the hospital administration is equally responsible, so why only blame the doctor?"

Dr Sunil Ingle, president of the IMA’s Pune chapter, added, "The hospital administration and management are responsible for the billing, money and the deposit. A doctor simply treats the patients and gets the consultation fees. In this case, the doctor never refused to treat the patients; the doctor only suggested that once the babies are born, they will be required to be kept in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and it will cost them Rs 10 lakhs. The patient was never admitted to the hospital, nor was she treated by the doctor. Then, how come an FIR has been filed against the doctor in the name of negligence? The patient had come to the OPD and, as a doctor, he explained to them the line of treatment and the costing. The doctor is unnecessarily blamed."

Dr Sanjay Patil, national secretary of the Hospital Board of India, IMA, pointed out, "The expert committee, which had doctors from the Sassoon General Hospital (SGH), gave the report on April 19 declaring that no negligence had been done. Then it was not accepted, and the committee submitted the report the other day, based on which the FIR was filed. The FIR was filed against Dr Ghaisas, and the sections applied were not relevant, as there was no negligence. The doctor never treated the patient; they gave them the admission note, and the family moved to the other hospital on their own. They were never denied treatment. Also, the committee did not include a representative from the MMC, which violates a 2016 government resolution. The investigation is ongoing, and according to the IMA, the section applied in the FIR is not applicable in this case."

A senior doctor from SGH, on the condition of anonymity, said, "The rules for government and charity hospitals are different, and therefore, the hospital administration is mainly to be blamed. Dr Ghaisas was under tremendous mental pressure due to public outrage, threats, and criticism, and therefore, he also resigned from the hospital. Also, financial policies are decided by hospital management, not doctors."

Maharashtra govt imposes Rs 10 lakh penalty on DMH

The Maharashtra government has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on DMH. "Of this, Rs 5 lakh each will be kept as Fixed Deposit for the two girls Bhise gave birth to before she died. The amount will be handed over to the two girls when they turn 18. Till then, all expenditures incurred on their treatment will be borne by the CM Relief Fund,” IE quoted a source as saying.

The government has also directed that hospitals under the Charity Commissioner should not take any advance from patients. “The government has proposed that all hospitals registered under the Charity Commissioner will not be allowed to ask for an advance from patients. Almost 10 per cent of their funds should be set aside for the treatment of the poor. The hospitals will have to provide reports on the utilisation of funds at regular intervals. The hospitals will have to ensure online operations to bring greater transparency and accountability,” the source added.

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