Paediatrician A 'Scapegoat' At Gorakhpur As Doctors Said in Delhi Doctors at Delhi's AIIMS

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AIIMS have alleged that a paediatrician Dr Kafeel Khan has been made a "scapegoat" at a hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur, where more 60 children died last week. Dr Khan, who was head of paediatrics and the children's encephalitis wards at the hospital, was removed on Sunday.

 "Doctors are being made scapegoats," said Dr. Harjit Singh Bhatti, who heads an association of resident doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences or AIIMS. 

 By blaming doctors for the death of the children, the association said, "politicians are hiding their incompetency," and asked, "Who is responsible if oxygen, gloves, equipment not available?".

 Last Thursday, at the BRD Medical College and Hospital, Gorakhpur's largest hospital filled with premature newborns and children suffering from encephalitis which plagues the area, the supply of liquid oxygen dipped to a critical low. 

23 children died at the hospital that day and parents and others have blamed the oxygen shortage for some of the deaths.

 The head of the hospital Dr Rajeev Mishra was suspended on Saturday, while Dr Kafeel Khan, on whose watch oxygen supply dipped to a critical low at the hospital on Thursday, was removed yesterday. 

 Government sources said he was sacked for failing to take action on a letter that was written on Thursday morning by those in charge of the hospital's oxygen supply, warning that that there was only enough to last till the evening and asking for emergency supplies.

 "We are not saying that the doctor can't be responsible, but he's not the only one responsible. We want a proper enquiry, government officials are also involved and even they should be held accountable. Not just a single doctor," said Dr Bhatti of AIIMS, who emphasised that hospitals lack infrastructure and basic facilities. 

 "I was here on the 9th and I categorically asked about encephalitis but no one informed me. We made payment (to the oxygen vendor) on August 7. Why didn't the hospital administration make the payment?" he said.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been regularly briefed, the Centre has turned down demands for a separate investigation. Union Health Minister JP Nadda announced that an 85-crore regional medical centre would be set up in Gorakhpur for research on diseases that afflict children.

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