RANEBENNUR (HAVERI): The women who accuse Dr Shant Pandannar, general surgeon at the government hospital here, of making them undergo alleged unwarranted hysterectomies, want compensation from the government for the agony caused to them. They also want the doctor to be jailed, which is not possible without establishing medical negligence.
Health Commissioner Subodh Yadav told Express, “The case was handed over to the CID but the Home department said without an FIR, it cannot be taken up. We ensured the FIR is lodged. Now the handing over has to be done by the secretariat.”
Last June, a six-member team headed by Haveri’s reproductive and child health officer (RCHO) was asked to speak to 20 of these women. The inquiry report was submitted but not a single woman was spoken to.
RCHO Dr M Jayanand has an explanation.
“I got just two days notice to conduct the inquiry. On the day of inquiry, it was chaotic in the hospital, with groups supporting the doctor and women protesting. Amid the noise, we called out names of 20 women who I was asked to probe but they did not turn up.”
Asked if the women were asked to be present, he said, “We did not have their contact numbers or addresses to send communication. There was no time to visit the thandas. Also, the DHO never asked us to probe whether the hysterectomies were unwarranted.”
An FIR was filed by the present district health officer of Haveri, Dr Mahesh Baddi.
Here too, the complaint did not ask police to investigate unwarranted hysterectomies. There is no mention of medical negligence either.
Baddi, Yadav and the police maintain that as and when the investigation proceeds, relevant sections will be added.
What is more, the Karnataka Medical Council, which is competent to look into case sheets, histopathology reports and discharge summaries, and ascertain medical negligence, has not been involved in this case this far.