Kerala: DMO to form med board after medico's post-mortem report
The case sheets seized by police from EMC and Rajagiri Hospital will be crucial to prove this.
Kochi: Experts say that though the probe team appointed by the Health Minister would visit the medical college and take evidence in the case related to the death of MBBS student Shamna Tasnim at Ernakulam Government Medical College (EMC), it will have powers only to take departmental action against those found guilty under the Director of Medical Education (DME).
“A criminal case has to be registered on the recommendation of the medical board at the district-level. This medical board takes cognizance of the matter when the investigating police officer requests the District Medical Officer (DMO) to authorize the medical board to look into it,” says a former District Medical Officer. The medical board will look into the case of medical negligence.
“The medical board consists of DMO, District Superintendent of Police or City Police Commissioner, District Government Pleader and Forensic Surgeon frm a Government Medical College and it’s headed by the DMO. The board can also take the opinion of experts as part of its probe. At the state level the Director of Health Services (DHS) is the head of the medical board. The board is in place as per a Supreme Court order and on the basis of a Government Order (GO),” said the former DMO.
Kalamassery CI Martin C J told DC that the request for constituting the medical board would be given to the DMO once the post-mortem report arrives. DMO Dr N K Kuttappan had said on Friday that he was yet to get any intimation to constitute the medical board. Students had alleged that the absence of facilities at the EMC had caused the death of the student including shortage of staff.
There were allegations from certain quarters that she had died at the EMC itself and then taken to a middle-level hospital to avoid blame. The case sheets seized by police from EMC and Rajagiri Hospital will be crucial to prove this. Students, among other things, want a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) facility which is essential in medical emergencies at every ward.