Fortis, Trehan ready for out-of-court settlement

NEW DELHI: After a week-long legal wrangling between Escorts Hospital and its sacked Executive Director Naresh Trehan, normalcy appeared to return to the institute as the warring sides began an out-of-court settlement.

Trehan, who was sacked by Escorts' owners Fortis Healthcare on Friday for conflict of interest, attended to his patients at the hospital and also carried out a few surgeries.

The renowned cardiologist and his associates had stayed away from work yesterday, after a doctor was injured in a scuffle with security personnel appointed by Fortis at the hospital on Tuesday.

Police had registered a case of vandalism and trespass against Trehan and others after protests at the hospital turned violent on Saturday when the cardiologist allegedly tried to force his entry into the hospital along with his associates.

A day after sacking Trehan, Fortis had dismissed two of his close associates -- Jugal Sharma and K L Sehgal and later carried out an administrative reshuffle at the hospital.

A group of doctors had approached the Delhi High Court seeking appointment of a panel to run the Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre (EHIRC), while Trehan moved the court separately pleading to be made party to the case.

Both Escorts management and Trehan told the court that efforts were on for an amicable solution to the dispute.

Patient and their relatives had a tough time at Escorts for the past one week as the police and private security guards were swarming the premises to maintain law and order.

Patients, their relatives as well as doctors were frisked before being allowed entry to the hospital.