COLLECTOR ISSUES NOTICE TO DOC OVER TWO MEN’S DEATHS

BHOPAL/RAISEN: Two brothers, in their 40s, from Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen died of Covid-19 on Friday and Sunday, and their deaths forced authorities to quarantine 57 police personnel to whom one of them supplied packed food. The parents of the two, their brother and the food supplier’s widow have been hospitalised.

District collector Umashankar Bhargava on Monday issued a notice to a doctor at the district hospital holding him responsible for the deaths since he had treated the supplier at his private clinic in violation of norms.

He said the supplier had a fever, cough, and respiratory problems since April 12. “He went to the private hospital of Dr Deepak Gupta, who is posted at the district hospital in Raisen, on April 17.

He did not advise the patient to go to a dedicated Covid-19 hospital nor did he inform the administration,” he said.

Bhargava said the supplier came to the district hospital on April 22 when his condition was serious. “He was referred to Hamidia hospital in Bhopal where he died on April 24. His brother was referred to the Bhopal hospital where he died on April 26.”

“Despite seeing the coronavirus symptoms and being a government doctor, you treated the patient in your private hospital which resulted in the death of two persons. Hence, your act is tantamount to a serious crime under MP Civil Service Conduct Rules, 1965... You are expected to give reply within 48 hours, else onesided action will be taken against you,” Bhargava said in his notice to Gupta.

Gupta could not be reached for comment.