Sion Hospital resident doctors to get assistance

The Sion Hospital administration has decided to deploy an MD- or MS-level physician with the resident doctor for every procedure involving the slightest risk. The decision was made after a female patient died at the hospital during fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) — a routine procedure. However, health experts claim this practice will only lead to chaos since more than 50 such procedures are conducted every day. 

On Tuesday, 33-year-old Yasmin Sheikh, a Dharavi resident, died during the routine diagnostic procedure. The FNAB was performed by senior resident doctors from the radiology department. But 15 minutes later, the patient died. 

Dr Sandhya Kamat, dean, Sion hospital, said, “We have ordered a probe into this incident. From now, for any such kind of procedure, we will appoint a qualified doctor who can accompany the resident doctor.” 

According to experts, FNAB is a basic routine test and a risk-free procedure which is helpful in establishing the diagnosis. The procedure is used to investigate superficial lumps. In this technique, doctors use a thin, hollow needle inserted into the mass to extract cells to be examined under the microscope.  However, Dr Kishor Taori, president of Maharashtra Medical

Council said that appointing a qualified doctor for every patient in a public hospital for such procedures would add to the chaos.