UP doctor given clean chit by govt in 2017 Gorakhpur hospital tragedy

Two years after 70 infants died at the BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur, a UP government inquiry, on Friday, has given a clean chit to Dr. Kafeel Khan in the case. Dr Khan was suspended following the death of children in the hospital in August 2017. Investigating Officer of the case, Principal Secretary, Stamp and Registration, Himanshu Kumar, said that Dr Khan has been given a clean chit in the case.

UP govt denied child death due to non-payment

The infants had died allegedly because of disruption in oxygen supply due to pending payments to the supplier, a charge stoutly refuted by the state government. The government has maintained that the children died due to different illnesses, including Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and there was no shortage of oxygen.

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Doctor given clean chit speaks to PTI

Dr Khan told PTI that "Principal, BRD Medical College, Ganesh Kumar gave me the UP Government letter. It clearly describes that I am free from charges of medical negligence, corruption and not performing duty on that fateful day when around 70 children lost their lives at BRD Medical College Hospital". "My bail order of Allahabad Court of April 25, 2018, confirmed that I was not part of the tendering process of oxygen supply and also there is no material on record which proves my medical negligence," he said. Kumar said, "It is a procedure that Government letters and orders are handed over in person under which the letter was given to Dr Kafeel Khan on Thursday".

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Report reveals reason for child-deaths

As per the investigation report, Dr Khan was neither the nodal medical officer in charge of encephalitis wards at BRD nor documents contesting the same provided by the department were adequate and consistent. The report also states that Dr Khan was not involved in the process of allotting tenders for oxygen supply amounting to corruption, or of medical negligence on his part on the day of the tragedy. The report also says that Dr Khan informed seniors about shortage of oxygen supply and arranged seven oxygen cylinders on the night of August 10-11, 2017.

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Who responsible for deaths then?

Dr Khan said he will hold a press conference in Delhi and ask CM Yogi Adityanath as to why his suspension has not been revoked so far. "I have got the clean chit now. The question arises as to who killed the 70 children," he said. Dr Khan said the letter handed over to him was dated April 18.

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