2 doctors among 5 booked for ‘unnecessary angioplasties’ on PMJAY beneficiaries in Ahmedabad hospital where 2 died

Meanwhile, police have booked five people from the hospital, including the chairman, in the case. The Gujarat government has ordered that Khyati Multispeciality Hospital be de-empanelled from the scheme.

In all, surgeries were conducted on seven persons from Borisana village.

The government-appointed medical investigators found that there was a vast difference between the hospital’s medical reports and angiography CDs of the patients.

The FIR, filed at Vastrapur police station, stated that while the hospital reports showed that Barot had 80% blockage in his mid left circumflex artery, the angiography CD showed no blockage at all. Further, against the hospital’s claim of 90% blockage in Barot’s mid right circumflex artery, the angiography showed only a 30-40% blockage.

In the case of the other deceased, Senma, the FIR stated that while hospital records showed a 90% blockage in the proximal and mid segments of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, the angiography CD showed 80% blockage in the mid section and 50% blockage in the proximal section. Further, against the hospital’s claim of 90% blockage in the right coronary artery, the angiography CD was proof that there was no blockage at all.

The FIR, based on the findings of the government-appointed medical investigators, alleged that the hospital and its authorities had not taken consent to perform angiography or angioplasty on the patients. Besides, it had been negligent in the post-operative care of these patients. It further alleged that the surgeries were carried out to defraud the PMJAY scheme and make illicit financial gains.

This FIR, filed on the basis of a complaint by Dr Prakash Ishwarlal Mehta, the in-charge CDMO cum Civil Surgeon at GMERS Sola Civil Hospital, on behalf of the Gujarat government, booked the five accused, including Hospital Chairman Kartik Jashu Patel, one Rajshri Pradeep Kothari, CEO Chirag Hirasingh Rajput, Cardiologist Dr Prashant Vazirani, and Bariatric Surgeon Dr Sanjay Mulji Patolia. They have been booked under BNS sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 336(2) (forgery), 336(3) (forgery with intention to use it to cheat someone), 318 (cheating), 340(1) (using forged documents as genuine), 340(2) (knowingly using forged documents as genuine) and 61 (criminal conspiracy).

Meanwhile, two more FIRs against these accused were filed at Kadi police station in Mehsana district, where Borisana village is located. While Jairam Girdhar Barot, the elder brother of deceased Mahesh, was the complainant in one FIR, Kadi Inspector PL Vaghela said that Praveen, the younger son of deceased Senma, is the complainant in the other FIR. Both these FIRs alleged that the deceased persons were operated upon without cause and that the doctors and hospital officials had taken “forced consent” from them. They also alleged that the hospital had done so to obtain illegal gains from the PMJAY scheme. In both these FIRs, the five accused were booked under the same sections of the BNS.

The last rites of Barot and Senma were conducted in their village on Wednesday. State health minister Rushikesh Patel, who returned from campaigning for the BJP in the impending Assembly elections in Maharashtra, chaired a review meeting in Gandhinagar and said, “None of the people responsible for this incident should be spared and strict action should be taken by the state government against the owners, managers and doctors of this hospital.”

In a press conference on Wednesday, Dhananjay Dwivedi, the Principal Secretary of Health, said that on Tuesday, the health department had formed an inquiry committee comprising a cardiologist from UNMICRC, experts from GMERS Sola Civil Hospital, and SAFU (State Anti-Fraud Unit). The committee’s report highlighted deficiencies in the procedures followed at the hospital. Dwivedi said, “The committee found criminal actions and medical negligence, and thus, Khyati Hospital has been permanently blacklisted as per PMJAY-MA (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana – Mukhyamantri Amrutam) guidelines. The doctor attached to Khyati Hospital will not be able to work in any other hospital in the state. If the owners, trustees or others from Khyati Hospital are associated with any other hospitals, the records of those hospitals will also be investigated for any irregularities under PMJAY.”

Dwivedi further said, “The Gujarat Medical Council will be instructed to take necessary action against the doctor involved in this incident. Cardiology cases carried out earlier at Khyati hospital will also be investigated.”
Meanwhile, the five other patients on whom the surgery was performed were either discharged or left the hospital premises against medical advice by 6 pm on Tuesday, said Borisana Sarpanch Mitesh Patel.

On Wednesday, the Ahmedabad City Police escorted them and 10 others to UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre (UNMICRC) in Ahmedabad for check ups, confirmed Dr Jasmin Patel, the Resident Medical Officer of the state’s largest cardiology hospital, located in Medicity campus.

Speaking from these vehicles, several patients told the media that their condition had worsened.

The Indian Express has learnt that in the past year, the public health division of the Gujarat health department has suspended at least five hospitals in as many districts for irregularities in the PMJAY scheme.