The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

‘Docs should not have criminal liability’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 15
The role of doctors is of a special kind, which is why the criminal liability of those in the medical profession should be in the rarest of rare cases. This was the consensus at a panel discussion on “Doctor’s liability: civil and criminal”, organised by the Association of British Scholars here today.

The panelists included Mr Pawan Bansal, MP, Prof B.L. Talwar, former head of the Department of Surgery, PGI, Dr J. Rai from the Fortis hospital and a senior advocate, Dr Balram Gupta, who coordinated the discussion.

There was a consensus on evolving strong “in-house mechanism” of dealing with cases of negligence in the form of effective statutory ethics committees.

The panelists were of the view that the doctors should not be exposed to criminal liability or handcuffed.

Mr Bansal opined that the doctors should not be under the purview of the Consumer Protection Act and should be liable for the civil proceedings only.

The participants in the discussion also said that the court of law must keep in mind the distinction between medical negligence and medical complications while dealing with all cases.

The panel discussion was followed by an interaction between the panelists and the participants.

Admn appoints coordinators
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 15
The Chandigarh Administration yesterday appointed coordinating officers to facilitate interaction between institutions/NGOs and the Administration. These officers would help resolve issues pertaining to the Administration.

They will visit respective institutions on a regular basis and submit a report regarding the functioning of these institutions to the Secretary, Social Welfare, on monthly basis.

They would also, during their visit, review the quality of infrastructure, food and security arrangements in these institutions. The list of the institutions and the officers appointed as Co-ordinators against each is as follows:

Mr H.S. Khandola, Joint Director Admn), Medical College — Sadhna Society for Mentally Retarded Children, Manimajra, Chandigarh. Chandi Kusht Ashram, Sector-47, Chandigarh. Mr Amit Singla, Assistant Commissioner, (under training) – Indian Council for Child Welfare.

Mr Arun Sekhri, Director (Transport), — School for Deaf and Dumb, Sector-19, Chandigarh. Mr C.P. Bansal, Director Health Services, — Sewa Bharti, plot No. 1, Sector-29, Chandigarh. Ms Sarita Malik, Chief General Manager, CITCO, — Bal Niketan Society, Sector 15-C. Capt P.S. Shergill, SDM(South)—Home for Old and Destitute People. Ms Padmini Singla, SDM(East),—Nari Niketan.

Mr Gurdip Singh, Director, Social Welfare,— Senior Citizens’ Home, Sector-43, Chandigarh.