Medical negligence cases gather dust at JJ Hospital

In 2013, Nandini Suchde, a resident of Colaba filed acomplaint at Azad Maidan police station against doctors from Bombay Hospitalalleging negligence that led to the death of her mother.

As per rules, police referred her case to a team of medical experts at Sir JJ Group of Hospitals for further investigation. The panel confirmed professional medical negligence and an FIR was registered against the doctors by the police station. However, a few months later, the same panel refuted the report and denied medical negligence in the case.

Talking to The Asian Age, Ms Suchde said, “Firstly, the police denied to investigate into the case then the panel are playing power game. When they declared that it was a culpable homicide case, how can they refuse it just after four months?”

Like her, files of several patients are sent to the expert panel of JJ Hospital for investigation. But most of the files gather dust at the hospital and patients keep waiting for justice. This fact has come to light following an RTI query filed by Shreya Nimonkar, a victim of medical negligence. The query was filed through her ‘Forum for Patients’ Right for Medical Negligence’.

In 2014, total 83 cases of medical negligence were referred to the hospital for medical reference. But sadly, only 28 cases have been investigated. In the past five years, since 2011, total 271 cases have been recorded with the hospital while only 105 cases have been disposed of.

Explaining the reasons behind files being kept pending, JJ Hospital dean Dr T.P. Lahane said, “In most of the cases, we don’t get detailed information. It gets delayed between the police station and hospitals. As we are not authorised to seek any document or information directly from the accused doctors or medical practitioners, we have to be dependent on police. So, until we get all the required documents, we cant finalise on any case so it remains pending.”

As per the data, the case of alleged medical negligence case is on the rise in the city. In 2011, only 38 cases were referred to the hospital, which rose to 83 in 2014. And till September of 2015, 47 cases have been recorded.

“People are getting more aware and are filing complaints. But what’s the point if they don’t get justice and the cases remain pending,” said Ms Nimonkar. She added that when she asked about the total number of verdicts given against doctors, the hospital refused to provide it, calling it “classified”.