New Delhi|HL
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) terminated the services of a senior resident doctor on Tuesday and initiated disciplinary action against three others, in the case of the death of nursing officer Rajbir Kaur .
Rajbir Kaur ,was died on February 4 after the severe complications durig her delivery.
AIIMS Deputy Director V Srinivas said the senior resident, Anaesthesiology, was found guilty of “wilful absence”and reaching the operation theatre nearly an hour late. “Due to his absence, the lower segment C-section was done without the nurse being given general anaesthesia. His services have been terminated,” he said.
The action was taken based on the findings of a high-level inquiry committee, which pointed out procedural lapses and negligence on the part of the doctors. The committee noted that Kaur’s case was that of a low-risk pregnancy.
This means the doctor will not be eligible for employment at AIIMS after the completion of his three-year tenure. “A warning shall be issued to Junior Resident, Anaesthesiology, for having left the the residents of Obstetrics and Gynaecology under pressure,” the statement read.
Srinavas also outlined a number of steps taken by AIIMS based on the inquiry committee’s findings and two rounds of meetings held at the director-level. The Anaesthesiology Department Head will now have to ensure round-the-clock availability of senior residents in the maternity operation theatre.
A day after the nurse’s death, AIIMS had suspended three senior residents from Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department and two junior residents from the Anaesthesia department, pending inquiry.
The action was taken based on preliminary report by a committee headed by Medical Superintendent DK Sharma, which ruled out any “intentional gross medical negligence” on part of the five doctors. But the suspension was revoked following protests from the Resident Doctors Association (RDA), which sought a detailed probe into the matter.
