HEALTH

Putting decoys’ lives to risk
Health Dept strategy not foolproof
Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, June 21
Rekha entered a clinic in Rajiv Colony for the medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) as a decoy for the Health Department. The idea was to expose the illegal practice of MTP operations by the doctor not suitably qualified to handle such cases. And before she was operated upon, the team of the department was supposed to barge in and catch the doctor red-handed. At least that was the understanding the Department had with her before she went in.

But when the team finally went in, it was already too late. They found Rekha lying in a heavily sedated condition, the foetus lying in a box containing wet sand. The MTP had been carried out by the “unqualified doctor” right under their nose.

In another similar raid at another clinic, the doctor was almost through with the MTP when the raiding team arrived. The patient, a decoy, had been exposed to the danger of being operated upon by unqualified doctors.

As is customary with the government machinery, the raiding team of doctors was late in both cases. The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Satvir Chaudhary, admits his department faltered and failed to act on time. “It was wrong to allow the unqualified doctors to perform MTP on patients, especially when they were sent by us. It could have caused a life-long damage. Thankfully, it didn’t cause complications. In future, we will take care that such mistakes are not repeated,” he says.

Strangely, the very department, targeting such illegal practices in private clinics, is giving patients on a platter to the very doctors it wants to book. The department chooses to blame it on communication gap.

“Our team was very much there but kept waiting for an indication from our informer. That came in late and when the team entered, the job had already been done. We are thinking of providing mobiles to decoys next time we raid a clinic. This would ensure we know exactly what is happening inside and can strike on time. Other methods which ensure safety of the patient would also be adopted,” he adds.

The two patients, gynaecologists point out, could have had a perforation of the uterus or a bladder or gut injury. “However, the immediate threat comes by way of infection to the patient since such clinics are not very particular about hygiene. Also, it could result in incomplete abortions and, if done after 12 weeks of pregnancy, death of the patient cannot be ruled out,” they point out.

While the department could only express regret in most cases when things did go wrong, the patients ended up as the sufferer rather than the unqualified doctor who was supposed to be at the receiving end.

“We have not booked the doctor in the first case for want of evidence. In this case, too, no formal complaint against the doctor has been made so far. These raids serve little purpose, especially since you can’t bring the doctors to book. Without substantial evidence and in the face of legal lacunae, it is certainly not worth endangering the lives of patients,” a police official claims.

SPORTS

Keshav, Angad enter second round
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, June 21
Keshav and Angad Singh made it to the second round of the under 10 age group in The Fort Ramgarh Total Tennis Championship, which began here today at the YMCA Courts, Sector 11. The matches are being held in boys under 10, 12 and under14 and girls (under 12 and under 14) sections.

Earlier, the seven-day meet was inaugurated by Mr Sarvesh Kaushal, Secretary Sports, Punjab, while it was presided over by Mr Satish Chandra.

In the boys under 14 singles, those who entered the second round are: Karanvir Singh, Arjun Khanna, Amardeep Singh, Sunil, Imaanbir S. Mann, Balwinder Singh, Harnaresh, Sonam Phustok, Jitesh Bassi, Akshat Joshi, Karan Bhai, Sidharth Singh, Rajwinder Grewal, Abheer Malhotra, Gagandeep S. Gill, Vishal Suri, Sukhjot Singh, Rishabh Gulati, Ishaan Thukral, Arwinder Pal Singh, Aditya Nagpal, Nitin, Brinder S. Grewal and Shiven Bali.

In the boys under 10 section, those who made it to the next round are: Keshav, Angad Singh, Karan Kapoor, Rishab Dev, Kunal Bansal, Surya Mittal, Srijan Uppal, Aditya Bansal, Kritharth, Pinak Ahuja, Paranav Suri, Pragun Vinayak.

In the boys under 12 singles, following entered the next round: Nimish Mehra, Arush Goel, Ravisher Singh, Angad S. Gill, Rishabh Kochhar, Harpreet Singh, Akshit Bhatia, Dharmender Singh, Dhruv Walia, Vivek Mehta, Priyadeep Singh, Amol Singh, Vivek, Rajwinder Grewal, Kartikay Kashyap, Tejinder Pal Singh, Gagandeep S. Gill and Sonam Phunsok.

Sports workshop

It was a rigorous one-month sporting activity in St Kabir Public School, Sector 26, where children played basketball, football, cricket and skating. Coaches of national repute gave specialised training to children whose age group ranged from 6 to 15 years.

Children also learnt rules and regulations of various sporting disciplines. Later, a prize distribution ceremony was held where the achievers were honoured.

Martial art workshop

Three-week summer martial art workshop concluded last evening at KB DAV Centenary School, Sector 7. Students learnt the art of self-defence techniques under the guidance of renowned martial art trainer Sukhjeevan Sharma.

He taught techniques like lock, choke, throw and kick to the participants.

He also taught the technique of jump kick, triple kick and back kick. Students were given tips on rolling, jumping, stretching and fast exercising.

They also were taught group fighting, set fighting and stretching.