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UK-based cardiologist Dr John Camm (left) and his impersonator (right).
In its report on the case of a fake cardiologist, who practised in Madhya Pradesh and other parts of India after falsely taking the identity of UK-based Dr N John Camm, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has criticised the police investigation, finding “several discrepancies” and inadequate charges filed against those responsible for seven patient deaths.
The NHRC report, submitted on July 1, said: “The present case is connected with deaths of victims during treatment provided by the alleged fake doctors. The police have registered the FIR under sections of IPC which prescribe much lesser punishment, whereas allegations pertain to homicide, cheating, forgery etc.”
The accused, Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav, was later arrested from Uttar Pradesh in April and is currently under judicial custody.
The NHRC criticised the police investigation, saying that “the police failed to take cognisance of the fact that the present FIR pertains to treatment given by a fake doctor, not medical negligence. The police should have initiated the investigation rather to wait for the inquiry report.”
The commission said, “The submission of questionable documents, absence of a verifiable qualification/license and permitting an unqualified person to not only practise as a doctor but also to perform life-threatening critical surgeries are wilful negligence and severe breach of statutory duties by CMHO, Damoh (the Chief Medical and Health Officer of Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district).”
The report revealed that Yadav had falsely claimed to be an alumnus of North Bengal Medical College, and that the institution had denied this claim.
The NHRC report also alleged that the management of the Damoh hospital where he worked had engaged in fraudulent activities for years without proper oversight. “The accused was running the hospital since several years. However, it is evident that no effort was taken by the CMHO, Damoh, to verify the degree and registration of the doctors and the establishment. Apparently, no inspection was carried out prior to the filing of the present complaint,” the report said.
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The hospital also allegedly misused the credentials of another doctor, Dr Akhilesh Dubey, to fraudulently obtain a license for its Cath Lab without his consent, the report said. According to the commission’s findings, “Dr Akhilesh Dubey informed that he had been providing Super Specialist OPD at Mission Hospital, Damoh, once in a month for the last 3 to 5 years and Mission Hospital runs a Cath Lab at Damoh. However, he has no relation with the Cath Lab of Mission Hospital.”
The report also alleged serious irregularities in the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat government-sponsored health insurance scheme at the hospital. It said the hospital “systematically misused the scheme by issuing fraudulent bills for treatments”.
Families of patients were allegedly compelled to pay substantial amounts despite having Ayushman Bharat cards. The report said, “In several cases, patient was allegedly compelled to pay Rs 2,15,000 (to) Rs 2,80,000 for an angiography and other procedures, and even the Ayushman Bharat card was taken at the time of admission, however, no money or very less money was refunded back to the family members.”
The NHRC has directed the Madhya Pradesh government to file separate FIRs and provide compensation to the families of those who died allegedly after being treated by the fake cardiologist.
English (US) ·