NBMCH report on implant surgery

TT, Siliguri, June 2: The North Bengal Medical College and Hospital today gave a clean chit to the orthopedic surgeon who was allegedly involved in a nexus with an implant supplier who had charged thrice the price for a proximal femoral nailing from a patient.

An enquiry committee set up to look into the incident said the supplier’s entry into the OT on May 14 was illegal.

NBMCH superintendent Amerendranath Sarkar said the committee submitted a report to him today and it did not mention about a doctor-tout nexus, a charge levelled against orthopedic surgeon S.R. Mitra by the relatives of Bharati Das from Subashpally here.

“I had constituted a four-member committee to look into the allegation of overcharging against Mitra. It has found no evidence to prove that the doctor was involved in the transaction between the relatives of Bharati Das and implant supplier Nirmal Mondal. The doctors involved in the surgery, including Mitra, and nursing staff members were questioned. All said they knew nothing about the transaction. Under these circumstances, we are not in a position to take action against Mitra,” he said.

On May 14, Uday Shankar Chanda, the brother of Bharati Das, 62, had alleged that Mondal had asked for Rs 16,800 for a proximal femoral nailing, an implant to fix a hip joint fracture, which costs Rs 6,000.

Das had been admitted to NBMCH under Mitra with a hip joint fracture and the surgery was conducted on May 14.

Few days before the surgery, Mitra had asked Chanda to purchase the implant from Mondal and Chanda got suspicious when Mondal quoted Rs 16,800 for it.

Mondal had assisted Mitra at the OT and Das’s relatives had said the supplier did not have the permission to do so.

“Rules say the superintendent’s permission is mandatory in such cases. The committee said Mondal’s entry to the OT on May 14 was illegal. It has recommended that the superintendent and the OT nurse in-charge’s permission should be sought by surgeons, if they have to take a technician into the OT,” Sarkar said. “The committee has said from now, the relatives would buy implants. Doctors should guide them with the prices and recommend around three companies from where implants can be bought. The relatives would submit the implant to the nurse in-charge who will give it to the doctor before surgery.”

On May 14, Mondal was arrested following an FIR by NBMCH. He was charged with section 420, (cheating and dishonesty) and sent to judicial custody for 14 days.

“There is a hearing tomorrow,” a court source said.