Journalism of Courage
The recent conviction of Dr Vilas Jagtap, a radiologist from Yeravada, has sparked off a three-day protest by Indian Radiological and Imaging Association, Pune Chapter, leading to a shut down of sonography machines at private clinics and corporate hospitals across the city from Monday onwards, causing a serious setback to thousands of patients.
As many as 150 radiologists marched to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) office in support of the doctors found guilty for not filling up forms related to Pre Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) or ultrasonography (USG), who have been imprisoned by the court and the government recently. The radiologists were protesting against the stringent provisions of the PCPNDT Act.
“We are upset at the manner in which radiologists are being dragged to court for clerical mistakes in maintaining records,” fumes Dr Viren Kulkarni, President of Pune chapter of Indian Radiological and Imaging Association.
Recently, Dr Vilas Jagtap, a radiologist from Yeravada, was convicted, sparking a three-day shut down of sonography machines at private clinics and corporate hospitals across the city. “We are waiting for the outcome of two meetings planned on December 8 in New Delhi between Indian Medical Association and the Health Ministry, and on December 24, when the Central advisory board of the PCPNDT cell meets,” Dr Jayesh Lele, President of state unit of IMA told The Indian Express when contacted.
While IMA has supported the three-day stir launched by the Indian Radiological and Imaging Association, Pune Chapter , Kulkarni said that they have demanded that the Act be modified. Radiologists will submit a memorandum of their demands to the PMC Commissioner on Tuesday.
Radiologists said they supported harsh punishment for those involved in illegal sex determination acts. “However, occasional lapses and trivial clerical mistakes that take place while filling the forms should not invite harsh punishments,” Dr Kulkarni said. Taking part in the stir, Dr. Prashant Chaudhari, radiologist, said, “Only private practitioners have been targeted while no checks, inspections are being carried out at government hospitals.”
This stir has been a fallout of Dr Jagtap being sentenced to a year’s imprisonment by a JMFC court on December 2 this year. He was pulled up for violation of PC-PNDT Act and also charged a fine of Rs 36,000.Jagtap said that he had appealed against the order in the Sessions court. When contacted Dr Vaishali Jadhav, Appropriate authority for implementing the PC-PNDT Act in PMC, told The Indian Express that following a complaint by the state government, Jagtap’s sonography records of pregnant women were checked in 2012 and there were discrepancies found.
