Recently, the szingle-headed bench of Justice PV Kunhikrishnan of the Kerala High Court has held that its high time that steps need to be taken by the State government to verify the education certificates of all doctors working in government hospitals.
"Certain guidelines is necessary to ensure that appointment orders of medical practitioners in the state are issued to selected candidates only after getting their educational certificates verified and authenticated by the Universities/institution that have issued to them. If necessary, steps should be taken to verify the education certificates of all government doctors working as on today," the Court said in its order.
This is not to demoralize the hard working doctors in the State, who are our strength and pride but only to make sure that culprits are not there in the profession and also to built confidence to the society, the Court added.
"It is the duty of the government to rule out these apprehensions and to create a doctor friendly atmosphere in our society," the judge held.
In the said matter, the Petitioner was admitted in the Taluk Headquarters Hospital, Karunagappally for delivering her baby. She was taken directly to the labour room since she was already experiencing some mild labour pain. A doctor, arrayed as the sixth respondent in the petition, examined her and then left the hospital.
When she started experiencing severe labour pain a few hours later, this doctor did not turn up even though nurses tried to contact her. Soon, some complications arose in the pregnancy and by the time the doctor returned, Sreedevi had delivered a still born baby.
It was the case of the petitioner that there was severe negligence on the part of the doctor which was what resulted in the still birth.
The doctor claimed that she has an MBBS degree and an MS in obstetrics and gynecology.
However, upon filing an RTI application, the petitioners found out that the doctor had actually failed in Diploma in Gynaecology and Obstetrics course.
This prompted the petitioners to approach the High Court seeking ₹20 lakh as compensation from the State government, to be recovered from the doctor.
They further sought an order to the State to issue guidelines to ensure that doctors are appointed only after their educational certificates are verified and authenticated by the university that issued them.
The Court noted from a statement filed by the Directorate of Health Service that the doctor had not received the degrees she claimed to have. It was also confirmed that she had forged her certificates.
The Court also opined that the public health sector needs more scrutiny and, therefore, directed the government to include its views on the matter in its affidavit.
The matter will be taken up next on September 4.
The petitioners were represented by M/s SR Prasath and Bhanu Thilak Advocates.
The doctor was represented by M/s PC Haridas and PS Govind Advocates.
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