Cardiologist Sacked After Death Of Three Patients At Delhi Hospital

A senior official informed that the cardiologist has been dismissed on the order following the Delhi Secretariat.

Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital at Dilshad Garden (File photo: getty)

New Delhi: A cardiologist has been "terminated" from service at the Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital in Delhi after the death of three patients, as reported by news agency PTI.

Officials said the Associate Professor of Cardiology, who was working on a contract basis at the Rajiv Gandhi Hospital run by the Delhi government, had his services terminated after the death of three patients due to heart blockage earlier this month.

A senior official informed that the cardiologist has been dismissed on the order following the Delhi Secretariat. The action was initiated against the doctor on March 10, before the formation of a four-member committee to review the case.

“… on recommendations of appropriate authority hereby orders the immediate termination of services of Dr. Praveen Singh, associate professor (cardiology) currently working on contract basis in Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty hospital,” read the order from the government’s health and family department, as reported by The Indian Express today.

On why the doctor was dismissed, the medical director of the hospital, Dr. Sanjay Agarwal, said, “The order came from the Delhi Secretariat and not the hospital. The secretariat can speak of the reasons.”

The four-member committee met for the second time on Monday and has not yet submitted its report to the government. 

The committee comprises, Dr. MA Gilani, Professor of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at GB Pant Hospital, Dr. Ranjit Kumar Nath, Head of Cardiology Department at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Dr. Girish MP, Professor of Cardiology at GB Pant Hospital; And Dr. Ankit Bansal, Assistant Professor of Cardiology at GB Pant Hospital.

The committee is still investigating allegations of "medical negligence". One member said on condition of anonymity that no conclusion has been reached yet, doctors are investigating the matter.