Punjab: Doctor booked under IPC 304A after paediatric patient death

Ludhiana: A city-based doctor has been booked under IPC Section 304A (causing death by negligence) after a paediatric patient suffering from diarrhoea died, allegedly due to the medical practitioner's negligence.

Notably, medical negligence cases are to be booked under IPC Section 304A (Causing death by negligence) as per various high court and supreme court judgments on medical negligence.

The present case relates to a 9-year old patient, who fell sick on October 31 2019. On November 1, he was taken to the doctor's clinic after the patient went on vomiting. He was diagnosed with diarrhoea and treated for the same. The medical practitioner reportedly administered glucose and discharged him the same evening.

Later that night, the patient's health started worsening. The patient's kin tried calling the doctor, however, he allegedly did not answer the calls. The next day the patient was rushed to a Ludhiana civil hospital, where he was declared dead by the doctors.

Also Read: FIR under IPC 304A quashed: Surgeon gets relief for death at home post-op

Thereafter, the deceased's kin vandalised the medical practitioner's clinic alleging medical negligence that resulted in the death of the patient and moved a complaint with the police.

Based on the complaint, the doctor was booked under Section 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code. Investigating officer, Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Kulvinder Singh stated that they had started an investigation into the matter.

As per a recent media report in TOI, the cops will also look into if the doctor is a fraud or a registered medical practitioner.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that a gynaecologist and a nurse, who allegedly left a cotton mop inside a 20-year old patient during a C-Section surgery, was booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) after the patient died including IPC 304A.

Also Read: Cotton Mop allegedly left during C-Section: Gynaecologist, Nurse booked under IPC 304 after patient death