PBT moves WBMC over NRS intern picnic
Kolkata, Mar 20 : A patients' rights body has complained before the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) for alleged action of going on a picnic en masse, leaving hospital duty, by several interns of the NRS Medical College in Kolkata
President of People for Better Treatment (PBT), Dr. Kunal Saha, on Tuesday in a letter to the Registrar of West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) urged for serious action against the Interns of NRS Medical College, for reportedly "violating the fundamental principles of the Code of Ethics which all doctors must strive to attain."
According to Saha, 122 Interns of NRS Medical College went to a picnic last Sunday leaving numerous patients in the hospital at peril.
Saha noted that it was reported that at least one patient died due to lack of medical care for the en masse absence of the interns who form the backbone of medical therapy in a government hospital like NRS Medical College.
He said, "What makes this atrocious behavior by the Interns even more deplorable is that the picnic at an exotic sea-resort which was organized and paid for by pharmaceutical companies."
Saha further added that the odious act of the Interns of NRS Medical College has clearly violated at least the Section 9 (against taking gift), Section 13 (obligation to the sick) and Section 16.1 (patients must not be neglected) of the WBMC 'Code of Medical Ethics'.
"While these Interns may not yet have formal registration with WBMC, they have completed MBBS and are treating patients as fully qualified doctors," he noted.
"The WBMC cannot shy away from their responsibility of protecting the vulnerable patients whose lives were put to serious danger by these wayward Interns."
Urging strong action against the interns, Saha asserted, "As such, we request you to take exemplary disciplinary action against these rogue interns of NRS Medical College for their unlawful and heartless behavior by withholding grant of their official registration for a significant period of time to send a strong signal against all unruly behaviors by Interns in order to save the lives of the hapless patients in West Bengal."