News:
For the first time in Indian medical history, Dr. Sukumar Mukherjee and Dr. Baidyanath Halder, two eminent Calcutta doctors were convicted for criminal negligence under Section 304A IPC and were sentenced for rigorous imprisonment on 29th May, 2002 for causing the death of Anuradha Saha by the Alipore Trial Court. Unfortunately, on 19th March, 2004 Justice Mr. G.C. De of the Calcutta High Court in a totally capricious manner (read the Verdict below), has over-turned the conviction of the two doctors although the HC agreed with the Alipore court in the acquittal of the third doctor, Abani Roychowdhury. An appeal before the Supreme Court of India is in the process against this wrongful acquittal of the three doctors by the HC. We believe that ultimate justice will prevail in the Apex court and the SC will again reverse the findings of the Calcutta HC as it did once before in 1999 in this very same case when the SC over-turned the quashing of the case against Dr. Abani Roychowdhury by the Calcutta HC.
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PBT is happy to announce the launching of a fortnightly Bengali bulletin exclusively on healthcare and "medical negligence", the first of its kind in India, which will also be available on this website.
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For the first time PBT was present in the North America Bengali Conference (NABC) in Houston in 2006 where many NRIs have joined hands with us. We expect to be present in 2007 NABC at Detroit.
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Other NEWS:

1) Historic Direction by the Supreme Court

In a major development in our battle to improve healthcare in India, the Supreme Court has issued notices to the Central Health Ministry and the Medical Council of India (MCI) asking why disciplinary action should be taken against doctors for refusing to provide "emergency" medical care to the patients due to doctors' strike or other reasons. This historic order by the Apex Court was delivered on July 24, 2006 after the PBT has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in view of the recent closure of the "Emergency" ward at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi due to doctor's strike that resulted in the death of at least two patient. Doctors have no right to refuse life-saving "emergency" therapy for the patients.

2) Under the pressure from the sinister medical lobby (including IMA), the West Bengal Government has offered an untouchable status for the Bengal doctors as they have openly directed that police can never arrest any doctor for charges of medical negligence. We strongly protest against this unlawful and biased action by the government that would undoubtedly make doctors in West Bengal even more reckless. The PBT has already sent a legal letter of the ‘demand for justice’ to the Chief Minister and Health Minister of West Bengal seeking clarification and will move the judiciary unless the Bengal government backs down from this illegal and misconceived idea.

3) The Supreme Court Division Bench of Justices Mr. Arijit Pasayat and C.K. Thakker on 9th September, 2004 openly disagreed with the previous observation by a different Bench that almost excluded doctors from Criminal liability. This matter has now been referred to a bigger Constitution Bench for proper interpretation of law. We welcome this latest decision by the Apex court as we believe that a bigger Bench in the Highest Court of the land would view this humanitarian subject in the right perspective and bring an end to the reckless practice of medicine by many Indian doctors. The PBT is also contemplating to intervene this legal battle when the topic of medical negligence comes before the full Bench of the Apex Court. We all know that the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and other influential medical lobbies have been shielding their doctor colleagues, even those who are clearly guilty of criminal negligence that results in the untimely death of numerous helpless patients across the country. We are not against the doctors but we want to bring an end to the reckless practice of wrongful therapy by the ‘untouchable’ Indian doctors. Our goal is to support the defenceless patients and to ensure that Indian doctors do not endanger human lives by indulging in careless practice of medicine.


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