Doc who denied dealing with case is on panel set up after SC order

Mohit Khanna 

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12

A day after Dr Alka Sehgal maintained that she was no long dealing with the pregnancy case, The Tribune has got hold of an order mentioning her as a committee member. 

The order issued by the office of Medical Superintendent has yet again brought to the fore the brewing controversy between doctors of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, pertaining to the pregnancy of the 10- year-old. 

The order summoned committee members, including the gynaecologist, to attend an important meeting at the One-Stop Crises Centre of the Civil Hospital on August 10. The letter reads: “In reference to the order number 22754-62 dated August 8, 2017, an urgent meeting has been convened to take stock of the progress and discuss management of patient,,,,,, admitted in the GMCH- 2. All panel members are requested to attend the same on August 10 at the centre,  Block A, at 3 pm.” 

The copy was forwarded to Prof  Dasari Harish, HoD, forensic medicine, Prof  Vishal Guglani, HoD, paediatrics, Prof Alka Sehgal, department of gynaecology and obstetrics, Prof Preeti Arun, department of psychiatry, Dr Bharti Goel, associate professor, gynaecology and obstetrics, Dr Rekha Gupta, assistant professor, radiodiagnosis, Prof Lakesh, anaesthesia, Dr Pankaj, paediatrics, Dr Shivangi Mehta, consultant, psychiatry, and  Madhu Arora, chief dietician.

Yesterday, Dr Alka Sehgal had said she was no longer member of any new committee and had not received any written order to look into the case.  She said there were three gynaecology units in the GMCH-32. All units were being headed by senior gynaecologists. The present case was under the observation of Dr Bharti Goel and the unit was being headed by Dr Navneet Takkar.

As per sources, controversy erupted after Dr Alka was told to deal with the “critical” pregnancy case. However, she allegedly denied the same and told Medical Superintendent (MS) Ravi Gupta that currently Dr Bhari Goyal was dealing with the case, who is working in Unit III headed by Dr Navneet Takkar, whereas she heads Unit I.

PGI panel

While the PGI included all department heads in the eight-member committee formed following the Supreme Court’s order for an opinion on the termination of pregnancy, the committee formed by GMCH-32 for the medical care of the rape survivor consists of juniors doctor and HoDs.