TCN News
After struggling for two long years in the Gorakhpur tragedy in which several children died due to shortage of oxygen cylinders in the BRD College and Hospital and requesting the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Pediatrician Kafeel Khan has finally received some support from them.
The IMA has written to the Prime Minister of India to revoke the suspension order and also to withdraw all legal cases against Dr. Kafeel Khan.
The IMA has also stated in their letter that the shortage of oxygen cylinders in the hospital were due to nonpayment of bills to the vendors. But Dr. Kafeel was accused of negligence even though he had bought cylinders from his money and saved the lives of several children.
According to RTI (Right to Information) this fact has been revealed. And the government has accepted that there was shortage of liquid oxygen for 54 hours in BRD Medical College on August 10, 11 and 12 and Dr Khan had indeed arranged jumbo oxygen cylinders to save the children.
A departmental enquiry has also revealed that there is no negligence on the part of Dr. Khan and the tragedy occurred due to severe shortage in the oxygen cylinders.
The doctors also drew attention of the PM to the sufferings of Dr. Khan and his family ever since his suspension and subsequent slapping of criminal cases against him. They urged the PM to compensate the doctor for the period he was suspended.
The High Court of Allahabad had also in its affidavit accepted the shortage of oxygen supply in the hospital.
The Supreme Court had asked the UP Government to pay all the subsistence allowances to Dr. Kafeel Khan pending his suspension.
However the court directions were not followed and Dr. Kafeel Khan who was wrongfully jailed and his character was tinted did not get the respite due to him. His suspension was not revoked now the compensation paid to him.
During the time when the IMA strongly supported the junior doctors who had been assaulted in a hospital in West Bengal in June, Dr. Kafeel had requested the IMA to lend their support to him as well.
Two months later the IMA decided to support Dr. Kafeel and have written to the PM in which they have stated:
“IMA identifies with Dr Kafeel Khan and proclaims solidarity with him in these difficult times. We request you to kindly further Dr khan’s cause to help him get justice,” .
“Dr Kafeel Khan’s suspension may kindly be revoked at the earliest and he may be compensated. Kindly prevail on the government of Uttar Pradesh to withdraw all pending legal cases against Dr Kafeel Khan and BRD Oxygen Tragedy may be investigated by central agencies,”.