The services of two doctors have been terminated, while two other doctors were suspended for alleged medical negligence in the case involving three-year-old Mariam Kouser, who was operated at the State-run Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedic (SGITO).
Health Minister U.T. Khader told The Hindu that two doctors have been suspended and two others have been dismissed from service. The decision was taken after the committee, led by Health Director Geeta Nyamgoudar, submitted its report which stated that there was medical negligence on the part of the doctors. A departmental inquiry would follow, after which sources said, booking a criminal case would be considered.
The two doctors whose services have been terminated are Deepak and Surangamma Tripathi, both contract doctors from the anaesthesiology department. The two suspended doctors are Prakashappa T.H., Head of one of the units of the Department of Orthopaedics, and P. Shivalingaiah, Professor and Head, Department of Anaesthesiology.
Mariam had met with an accident on December 13 and fractured her left elbow, for which she was operated upon at SGITO on December 16; after which she went into coma and is currently undergoing treatment at Dr. Malathi Manipal Hospital.
Sudarshan Ballal, medical director of Manipal Hospitals, said there has been no change in the condition of the girl over the past few days. “She is off the ventilator and is showing slight movements in the limb” he added.
