Nagpur's GMCH probe into loss of severed hand

NAGPUR: The dean, Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), has initiated a probe into the alleged negligence of a plastic surgeon at the hospital to attend to a ten year old boy, Shiva Salonke, who allegedly lost his right arm in an accident. He has formed a five member committee to conduct the investigations.
The allegation against GMCH is that the doctors disposed of the arm as bio-waste without making any effort to join it back.However, no one actually knows who brought the hand and who disposed of it and whether the doctors in casualty threw it away?
The enquiry team comprises Dr Raj Gajbhiye, Dr Sajal Mitra, Dr Apoorva Pawde, Dr Jagdish Hedaoo, the treating surgeon and the medical superintendent and Matron E S Joseph. The patient was travelling in an auto with his two paternal aunts and father from Kinhi Ghatanji to Arni where the family lives in Yavatmal district. Some vehicle hit the auto and one of the aunts died on the spot. The family first took the boy, whose arm had severed from the body, to Yavatmal GMC hospital from where he was referred to GMCH after first aid. The family reached GMCH at 3pm on February 11 while the hand was sent with in an ice-packet the next day. He is under treatment in Ward 20.
The dean told TOI practically no one as at fault but probably the patient could have received better treatment had the district hospital communicated to the GMCH about sending patient in an ambulance with the arm separated from shoulder. “Since I have been told the plastic surgeon who should have attended to the patient either refused to come and see the boy or was not available, I have ordered an inquiry by a five member committee,” he said.
Shashikala Pawar, the aunt of the ten year old Shiva, and his father Uttam Salonke, who too was hurt in the accident, say that the GMCH doctors were not at fault. They were giving best possible treatment. “What could they do? The hand also reached the next day,” said the aunt.