away patientsNew Delhi, Oct 13 (PTI) An AIIMS doctor has penned anopen letter in response to Union minister Ashwini Choubey'sreported instruction to turn away people with minor ailmentsfrom Bihar who were "crowding" the hospital, saying it wouldbe "morally incorrect" and "illegal".
The overcrowding at the premier institute in the nationalcapital is a problem created by poor healthcare infrastructurein the country, said Dr Shah Alam Khan, a professor at theAIIMS Orthopaedics department here.
Choubey, recently appointed as the Union Minister ofState for Health, was quoted as having instructed the AIIMSdirector to send patients from Bihar with minor ailments backto Patna for treatment, for which he drew criticism.
Khan admitted that at times there is a "loss of gate-keeping" in referral practices, "but then that is not a faultof the patient and they should not be punished for this.""As doctors, we cannot (and should not) refuse treatmentto any patient based on their region, caste, creed, religion,gender, social status and nationality. It is not only morallyincorrect but actually illegal to do this.
"So please do not advise doctors from AIIMS, or for thatmatter any doctor in the country serving under yourgovernment, to withdraw treatment to a section of patients,"he said in his letter.
The minister was quoted saying, "People of Bihar areunnecessarily crowding AIIMS, Delhi even for minor ailmentswhich can be treated at home," at a function here last Sunday.
The minister yesterday denied giving instructions to theAIIMS director to turn away patients. "I have never said sucha thing. What is being reported in media is baseless andfalse."Khan also talked about a 14-year-old bone cancer patientfrom Bihar, who had asked him if the doctor would treat himfollowing the minister's remarks.
"Despite such a serious illness, he hasn't lost hisliveliness. Yesterday, in light of your statement, he wantedto know if I'll continue to see patients from Bihar. I askedhim to come and see me next week. He kissed my hands with hisparched, paper thin lips." PTI PLBBSA.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.