Tejinder sodhi
Srinagar: Undeterred by the lukewarm response of the Director Health services Kashmir and the then Health Minister Chodwary Lal Singh, a battered father has approached Prime Minister’s office (PMO) asking it to take action against two neurosurgeons of SKIMS who operated upon his 14 month old child on right side of his head instead of left.
The PMO has not disappointed him. It has directed chief secretary of the state to look into the matter and report back.
It was in the year 2001 when parents of Reyan Mushtaq came to know that their only son had developed Archnoid cyst on left side of his head. Dr. Altaf Umar, neuro-surgeon at SKIMS treated their son, advised them that surgery was the only way to save their child’s life.
On September 20, 2001 Dr. Altaf and his associate conducted the operation. However, a few days after the operation, tests indicated that doctors had operated upon on the right side of the head while the cyst was on the left side.
“I was shocked to hear this. When I approached that the doctors, instead of confessing their Guilt they advised another Surgery to undo the wrong. They were behaving as if it was a routine matter in the hospital.” Reyan’s father Mushtaq Ahmad said.
Instead of following the ‘advice’, Mushtaq took his son to Delhi and consulted doctors there, who conformed that the cyst was still present on the left side of the head.
The doctors at Batra institute removed the cyst on April17, 2002. However, Reyan would grow without teeth and hair.
After the successful operation, Mushtaq approached medical authorities in Kashmir seeking action against the erring doctors at SKIMS but without any response. Exasperated he approached Medical council of India (MCI). The MCI in its letter (MCI-211(51)-2002/Regn dated January 23, 2003) asked the Director Health services Kashmir to investigate the matter and take action.
The MCI letter reads; complaint against awful professional negligence of Dr. Altaf Umar Ramzan and Dr. Farooq Ahmad, Neurosurgery department at SKIMS as alleged by Mushtaq Ahmad Dar of srinagar. You are requested to investigate and take necessary action under intimation of this council as well as to the complainant.” However, the Director concerned didn’t give any response, alleges Mushtaq.
Dejected by the approach of Director Health Mushtaq Ahmad on October 6, 2003 brought the matter before the then Health Minister Chowdary Lal Singh. After hearing the story the minister promptly directed the Director Health services to submit report in five days.
When Mushtaq came to know that even after months the Director had not submitted the report to the minister, he went to New Delhi and brought the matter Before congress General Secretary Ambika Soni. Soni in March 2004 took strong exception to non-compliance of Minister’s order by the Director Health Services and asked Lal singh to look into the matter again.
Soni even censured the minister asking him why the Director concerned had not reported him back. Still nothing happened. But Mushtaq didn’t give up.
He approached the Prime Minister Office (PMO). The special secretary in the PMO’s office, Rohit Kheraj, Vide letter no 09/25/2004 on April 16 this year wrote to JK chief secretary asking him to take action.
Following the directive from PMO, additional secretary Health and Medical Education, on June 14, directed Director SKIMS and Director Health to Furnish a detailed report on the matter.
Director Healthy, Dr. Muzaffar, was not available for comment despite repeated efforts to contact him. But an official in his office said they had not received any such letter. However Director SKIMS Dr Jalal Said the said report had been sent to chief minister’s office and Chief Secretary. However, he didn’t disclose the contents of the report saying, “ It can’t be disclosed, it is confidential.”