5 min readPuneMay 30, 2024 07:29 PM IST
First published on: May 30, 2024 at 07:29 PM IST
Patient welfare and teaching students are supreme at a medical institution. However unfortunately, doctors and teaching staff have to be at the mercy of so many people for their transfers, promotions or petty gains,” says 80-year-old Dr Mrudula Phadke who headed the prestigious B J Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital in Pune in the early 90s before she was appointed director of Medical Education and Research and then Vice-Chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences.
A series of incidents in the past two years have rocked the prestigious college – be it the alleged malpractices in the kidney transplant process, the rat-bite case in the intensive care unit, the sensational escape of drug cartel kingpin Lalit Patil and now the Pune Porsche car crash case where two doctors and one Class IV staffer have been suspended.
“Does the blood exchange incidence bring down the image of these institutes? It does not and the media should also not play on this. One bad mango does not mean the whole box is rotten. By constantly associating negativity with the names of these institutes we are taking away a strong support from the lower middle class and the poor of this region,” former Dean Dr Renu Bharadwaj told The Indian Express.
“Having been associated with this institute in various capacities including dean, it pains me to see the hospital being shown in such a bad light because of the misdeeds of a few,” Dr Bharadwaj said.
Dr Arun Jamkar who was Dean of B J Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital said that he has witnessed first hand, the incredible dedication of doctors and staff in providing exceptional care to those who need it the most – the people at the bottom of the pyramid.
“We have performed countless surgeries for the underprivileged, been at the forefront of public health battles, from the H1N1 pandemic to the aftermath of the German Bakery bomb blast. These incidents should not overshadow the unwavering dedication of our staff, nurses, doctors, professors, and support staff,” Dr Jamkar appealed, pointing out that Sassoon Hospital has not lost sight of its core values, and would continue to fight for the health and well-being of our community.
Dr Phadke also called for renewing the symbiotic relationship between the Directorate of Health Services and Directorate of Medical Education.
Dr Pravin Shingare, former Dean of Grant Government Medical College, Mumbai, and former Director of Medical Education and Research, said that B J Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital has earned name and fame during the last 75 years. Yet, he agreed that various incidents in the Sassoon Hospital have created doubts in the minds of the public about the legal and ethical behaviour of the doctors.
“It is difficult to get a seat in B J Government Medical College, but it is equally easy to get a bed for any patient. Permission for kidney transplant in Ruby Hall case, Lalit Patil admission and run away case and Porsche car accident case have proved that the administration has lost the control over the behaviour of the doctors,” Dr Shingare told The Indian Express
Shingare added that most of the unethical acts by doctors are due to either heavy pressure from the society or political personalities or for financial gain. In all the cases that happened in the Sassoon General Hospital, both the reasons were obviously seen.
Authorities like the state government, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences and Maharashtra Medical Council play a major role in preventing recurrence of such incidences by changing their regulations.
“Previously such incidences were rarest of the rare, because the profession was getting an honour from the society. New generation doctors should observe the law of the country and do the duty without fear or favour,” said Shingare.
Maharashtra Medical Council is the authority to take the action against the doctors for misconduct. “The medical education department of Government of Maharashtra is the administrative authority, which can take strict action against such type of behaviour. Maharashtra University of Health Sciences can also cancel the teacher ship, guide ship, and examiner ship of medical teachers, if they are proved guilty. All these authorities have failed to take proper action at the appropriate time,” Dr Shingare said, and added that doctors engaged in unethical and illegal activities (including corruption) have the feeling they would go scot free, based on previous incidents.
“During suspension period a doctor gets salary, so he is not bothered about the action of suspension. A terminated doctor can practice privately and earn, so he is also not bothered about termination. They are bothered about cancellation of registration to practice by Maharashtra Medical Council and about imprisonment. Practically in all the malpractice and misconduct cases, these two actions were never taken, thus promoting such doctors to repeat their unethical acts,” Dr Shingare said.
B J Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital in Pune. File photo 
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