Tenkasi-based doctor ‘offers’ board to quack, in the dock

TNN | Nov 18, 2018, 08.12 AM IST

CHENNAI: Complaints against one doctor who helped a quack by offering him his name boards and prescription pad, and another who let a homeopath perform ultrasound scans, came up before the disciplinary committee of the state medical council earlier this week. 

“The committee has found both doctors guilty. We have also recommended action to be taken against the quacks by appropriate authorities,” Tamil Nadu State Medical Council president Dr K Senthil said. The council will initiate action against the doctors, which may include suspension of licences, he said.

Directorate of health service in Tenkasi filed complaints of misconduct against the two doctors.

In the first case, Tenkasi-based Dr Sivakumar was working in a clinic run by Anburaj, a quack. Health officials, who caught Anburaj prescribing medicines using Dr Sivakumar’s name, filed the complaint. During inquiry, Dr Sivakumar told the disciplinary committee that he worked at the quack’s clinic on Sundays. “He told us that he was not aware of the quack misusing his nameboard and pad,” Dr K Senthil said.

In the other case, radiologist Dr Kulandaivelu of Tenkasi, working with Suham Scan Centre, allowed homeopath Dr Thavamani to take ultrasound scans in his absence, in violation of the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994. The complaint from the local health officer Dr Elangovan said she signed scan reports in her name, although Dr Kulandaivelu sent monthly reports to the state health department covering for Dr Thavamani.

When joint director Dr Elangovan raided the centre and quizzed the doctor, he found several violations. Dr Kulandaivelu told the council that the homeopath was allowed to do scans in his centre once in a while as she had completed a course in sonography at the Bharathidasan University and was hence permitted to do ultrasound scans. “The disciplinary committee even checked with the university and found that the course was meant only to assist doctors and not to do the scans,” he said.

Deputy superintendent Thomas Alexander, who is deputed to the health department for checking violations of PCPNDT Act said sex-determination and sex-selective abortions led to dip in sex ratio at birth. “With our networks and intelligence, we keep a close watch on sex ratio at birth. If we see high rate abortions in second trimester, we look for violations,” he said.

In a third case, a man filed a complaint stating that abuse of analgesic by a quack led to the death of his wife. Madurai-based Duraipandi had given multiple analgesics injections and tablets to a patient who complained of fever and body ache in November, 2013. The next day, her health worsened and was referred to bigger centres, where she passed away. Inquiries later revealed that Duraipandi had quit formal education.

“A police complaint has been filed and the consumer court has awarded compensation. The complainant wanted our opinion on the matter to strengthen his case. We have said action should be initiated against the quack,” Dr Senthil said.