Bhubaneswar, Special Correspondent: Doctors at the Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) are facing investigation for allegedly failing to conduct a post-mortem on a Class IX tribal student who died at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) in Bhubaneswar.
Police to Question Doctors
The police probing the case are expected to question the doctors soon, amid suspicions of procedural lapses and a potential attempt to cover up the circumstances of the student’s death. Investigators are examining whether instructions were given to avoid a post-mortem and if there was pressure to classify the death as non-suspicious.
Controversial Death Report
According to media reports, the student was allegedly strangled to death, yet the official cause of death was listed as cardiac arrest following diarrhoea. This discrepancy has raised serious concerns among child rights activists and the public.
OSCPCR Raises Alarm
The Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) has accused the doctors of issuing an incorrect death certificate without conducting a post-mortem. The commission questioned how the student’s body was moved without proper medical examination and demanded a formal investigation into the doctors involved.
Incident Details
The deceased was a 14-year-old student allegedly strangled by three fellow students during the night of December 11-12 over a minor dispute. Following the incident, three students along with eight KISS employees and staff members have been suspended pending further inquiry.
Private Doctor Implicated
The OSCPCR also highlighted the role of a private doctor who allegedly issued a death report without examining the body. The commission claims that this doctor’s actions contributed to the issuance of an incorrect death certificate, further complicating the investigation.
Medical Board Review
Police have sought a technical opinion from a medical board to examine the conduct of KIMS doctors who treated the student. The board has been tasked with reviewing medical records, post-mortem findings, and whether standard protocols were followed during treatment.
Mismatch Between Records and Findings
Investigators have flagged inconsistencies between the treatment documents prepared by KIMS doctors and the post-mortem report. The police believe that questioning the doctors and evaluating the board’s technical opinion will be crucial in identifying the incident’s mastermind and uncovering any attempts to suppress evidence.
