The arrest of five doctors including the CEO and Medical Director of L.H. Hiranandani Hospital in connection with the kidney racket is sending ripples through the medical fraternity, with a nephrologist resigning in protest. Dr. Vishwanath Billa, an honorary transplant physician with Sion Hospital, tendered his resignation on Friday.
In a Facebook post, Dr. Billa said, “The current scenario in transplant is such that I feel vulnerable to errors of commission and omission that could take place in documentation, which I cannot control. This vulnerability could land me in jail for no fault of mine.”
Dr. Ajit Sawant, Professor and Head of Urology at Sion Hospital, said, “Dr. Billa has rendered valuable services for the transplant programme since 2009 without expecting or getting any remuneration. The transplant programme of Sion Hospital is going to be adversely affected, and I regret the inconvenience caused to patients.”
Dr. Pravin Shingare, who heads the Directorate of Medical Education and Research, said the grounds on which the five doctors were arrested had created fear in nephrologists and others in the fraternity. “Doctors have no connection with the verification of the patient’s documents. Should we go to jail over these things? Even members of the ethical committees of hospitals have stopped coming for committee meetings,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Magistrate’s court in Dindoshi on Friday rejected anticipatory bail applications filed by Drs. Suvin Shetty and Veena Sovlikar from Hiranandani Hospital in connection with the case. When their applications came up for hearing, the police argued that they may need to interrogate the duo in custody if it was felt necessary during the investigation.
Police officials investigating the racket at L.H. Hiranandani Hospital said they are expecting a report from the state government committee on the matter soon, after which they will decide on further action in the matter.
I feel vulnerable to errors of commission and omission that could take place in documentation
Dr. Vishwanath Billa
on Facebook
