Medical Council of India (MCI) passed an order directing West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) to investigate complaint lodged by PBT against Dr. Nirmal Maji (WBMC president and MLA who is known to be very close Mamata Banerjee) and two other senior government doctors, for their role in planning dialysis of their pet dog at the SSKM Hospital, a premier state post-graduate medical center in Kolkata. Dr. Maji and SSKM superintendent (Dr. Pradip Mitra) and head of Nephrology (Dr. Rajendra Pandey) were involved in organizing dialysis of a pet dog at the SSKM hospital putting lives of countless patients to serious danger abusing their high governmental positions and political influence in 2015. Fortunately, the news was leaked to the media causing a huge public uproar that prevented final dialysis of the dog in a machine for humans.
PBT lodged a complaint with WBMC for exemplary disciplinary action against the three doctors for their brazenly unethical conduct. After WBMC remained silent for two years, PBT lodged an appeal (under section 8.7 of MCI Code of Ethics & Regulations, 2002) with the MCI seeking action against the three doctors. In its order earlier this month, MCI has referred the case back to WBMC directing them to complete investigation and take appropriate disciplinary action within a period of 3 months. MCI has further said in their order that if WBMC fails to complete investigation within 3 months, PBT may return to MCI for justice. But the obvious question – are WBMC members qualified to conduct a fair and impartial investigation against their own president? PBT has called for investigation by independent doctors from out of state to avoid possibility of the appearance of a conflict of interest (see the news below).
