Damoh (Madhya Pradesh) [India]: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Member Priyank Kanungo on Wednesday voiced serious concerns regarding the lax response of Madhya Pradesh’s health department in a shocking case involving a fake doctor accused of causing the deaths of at least seven patients at a hospital in Damoh district.
Kanungo criticized health officials for their inaction, especially after the exposure of forged medical documents submitted by the accused.
“The kind of action taken by the health department is concerning. The doctor’s fake documents are prima facie information,” said Kanungo.
“The investigation by the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) has resulted in complete inaction. Once it is clear that someone has fake documents, the question of whether the surgeries performed were correct becomes secondary. This reflects gross negligence in the investigation.”
The accused was recently arrested and an FIR has been filed at Kotwali police station for fraud and document forgery in obtaining a position at a mission hospital in the district.
Escalation of the Case:
Following the arrest, Damoh Child Welfare Committee Chairman Deepak Tiwari demanded a comprehensive probe, expressing alarm at the alleged deaths and lack of immediate oversight by authorities.
On April 7, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav condemned the incident and assured that strict action would be taken. He emphasized that the state government would not delay action in similar cases and instructed the health department to ensure swift intervention if other such instances exist across the state.
A Disturbing Backstory:
Adding a bizarre twist to the case, the accused reportedly impersonated a British doctor named N John Kem. In a strange instance of political commentary, he had previously posted on social media (formerly Twitter) in July 2023, calling for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to be sent to France during the riots there.