Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 19: Minister for Health and Medical Education RS Chib today sacked Dr Aniece Choudhary, Principal Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu from the post of HoD ENT, where he has been facing serious charges of neglecting an infant for four days leading to his death.
Mr Chib in consultations with Commissioner/Secretary, Health and Medical Education M K Dwivedi and other senior officers of the department has appointed Dr Sunil Kotwal as new HoD of ENT Department.
However, the observers were of the view that it was a ploy to shield Dr Choudhary as he would continue as Principal GMC Jammu and, thus, an independent inquiry into negligent death of the baby was not possible as he could influence the staff and other people. They demanded that Dr Choudhary should be dismissed as the Principal immediately to pave the way for fair and impartial probe into the death of the baby.
A Government handout said: “in order to conduct free and fair inquiry regarding the functioning of the ENT Department, the Medical Education Minister directed removal of Dr Choudhary from the post of HoD ENT. He designated Dr (Prof) Sunil Kotwal, who is next senior most in the ENT Department, as HoD”.
In addition to magisterial inquiry, which was already on, Mr Chib has directed FA/CAO of Health and Medical Education, Yaqoob Ittoo to submit factual report regarding various allegations against Dr Choudhary.
It may be mentioned here that massive protests had rocked Jammu City after one and a half year old baby from Doda died in ENT Department of SMGS Hospital waiting for removal of corn through bronchoscopy for four days.
No other doctor in the ENT Department could perform the minor procedure as the equipments used in it had been kept in lock and key by Dr Choudhary, sources said.
Dr Choudhary had called attendants of the patient to his clinic and charges Rs 250 from them despite the fact that a Principal of the GMC was not entitled to private practice. His clinic had recently been sealed by the Health Department.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel