Cop to physical wreck, all due to medical negligence?

Y Maheswara Reddy

Bengaluru: Once you enter this old house with an asbestos-roof at Shivananda Nagar in Moodalapalya, a weak and unshaved man on his bed greets you. He is Ramu who used to work as a head police constable at High Grounds Traffic Police Station. He has been confined to a 10x8 sq ft room since October 2017 due to alleged medical negligence.

“I never used to smoke cigarettes or consume alcohol. I was hale and hearty till I started suffering from stomach pain and constipation on September 18, 2017. I got admitted to a private hospital and got shifted to another private hospital near Vasanth Nagar after two days,’’ said Ramu, adding that he has to depend on his sister and brother for everything.

He said the doctors advised him to undergo some tests, including MRI, CT scan, angiogram, for arteriovenous malformation. “I was not able to walk and stand for a while before getting admitted to the private hospital for treatment but I became bed-ridden after doctors began treatment,’’ he alleged.

He blamed the doctors for not providing the right treatment. “The doctors began treating me as an outpatient for a few months. Later I could not avail the treatment due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I have requested the doctors to provide me data on the treatment given to me but they did not provide proper and accurate data,’’ he rued.

Later, he approached Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) seeking a probe into the alleged medical negligence. “The KSHRC authorities have dismissed my complaint stating that I have lodged it late. Later, I have also complained to the Director General of Police requesting for a probe into the matter but in vain,’’ he said, adding that neither senior police officers nor KSHRC officials understand his pathetic condition.

Recently, Karnataka Medical Council Registrar Dr Shamarao B Patil has sent a copy of the letter, that was sent to the doctor of the private hospital, to Ramu. Dr Patil, in the letter, has stated that he has received a complaint of Ramu through the Police Inspector of Vidhana Soudha. He has directed the doctor, under the powers conferred vide Section 16 of Karnataka Municipal Medical Registration Act,to furnish an explanation in 15 days. Dr Patil has sent the letter to the doctor on December 23, 2021.