JJ on the defensive

Stung by criticism for allowing the hospital sweeper to perform sensitive medical procedures, state-government run JJ hospital was trying to play the episode down.

An internal report submitted by the hospital’s medicine department on October 11 had accused Tejilal Padaya (44), the facility’s sweeper, of collecting blood samples and carrying out lumbar punctures and procedures to relieve fluid build-up in the abdominal region upon the insistence of department’s medics.

Minister for medical education Dilip Walse Patil, on October 13, had ordered setting up of a three-member panel to investigate if Padaya had performed medical tasks independently.  Hospital Superintendent Dr Arun Pol said, “It will also probe if medics abated the act.”

The hospital is yet to announce the panel’s make up. Pol informed that senior medicine department medic Dr Vidya Nagar — the whistle blower in the case — will head the panel. Dr Nagar had, on October 11, after receiving complaints from patients, alerted the administration about the malpractice. While Nagar was not reachable, a top hospital medic said that ever since her complaint, she has come under pressure from all quarters.

The names under scanner were those of endocrinology housemen Dr Prakash Ugale, acting medicine head of department Dr Snehal Gadge and her predecessor Dr Archana Chowdhary.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, hospital’s dean Pravin Shingare said prima facie reports indicate the sweeper did not perform medical tasks. “The patients had their shut eyes when medics collected blood. They complained because they saw Padaya discarding used syringes.” The committee was expected to table its report on Monday.