MRI gives judge dose of JJ’s bitter medicine

He explained that after a minor injury near his ear, he had called on his personal physician, who recommended an MRI at the JJ Hospital. “I paid the necessary fees for test.After the examination, I was given the report. However, when I asked for the MRI film, I was told that the same will be given to me at a later date,” the judge said.

And that’s not all the judge and several other patients may have to undergo the scan all over again. For, a senior JJ official told Express Newsline today that the machine could store only 12 scans. “I am not sure if the judge’s scan has been stored,” he said. The official confirmed that the Rs 12-crore machine was being operated without a film since Monday and added that the medical officer in charge should have briefed the judge about the problem. He said the Radiology Department’s failure to procure MRI films had led to many such embarrassing encounters with patients.

Medical Superintendent S B Modi could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Maharashtra Medical Council Member Sudhir Dagaonkar said the reports that the hospital was handing out to patients would be quite inadequate for any neurosurgeon to diagnose a case.

Thisis not the first time the machine has put the hospital in a tight spot. Ever since the alliance government decided to install CT Scan and MRI equipment at the JJ Hospital, controversies have dogged the machine – first there were allegations of irregularities in its purchase and then the delay in its installation led to adverse reports in the media and charges of mismanagement against the hospital in assembly. In fact, in the recently concluded budget session of the state legislation, senior Congress leader, R R Patil, had furnished documents alleging irregularities in the purchase of the equipment. He had alleged that the same equipment was procured by some other leading private hospitals in the metropolis for Rs 8 to 10 crore.

Health Minister Daulatrao Aher, a surgeon by profession, had made a weak attempt to refute the charges, saying the allegations were politically motivated. Patil had then offered to resign if any of his charges were proved baseless and had submitted all relevant documents to theminister.