IMA backs doctors, nurses in Ahmednagar hospital fire case

Fire-fighters at the hospital. Pic/PTI

The State Council of Maharashtra, IMA unanimously passed a resolution to stand by not only Dr Vishakha Shinde, but also the three nurses who were arrested in connection with the Ahmednagar Civil Hospital fire. The decision was made in a special meeting that was held in Mumbai, yesterday.

The newly elected IMA President, Dr Suhas Pingle said, "She is a member of our family. She is our daughter and we will stand by her. While she is out on bail, the charges against her are of serious nature, which will affect her career adversely. Slapping doctors and nurses with charges under Sections 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 304 A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) by authorities has raised serious questions about the safety of professionals in [this] democratic country."

The IMA members, who are in touch with Dr Shinde and her family, said that they have been counselling her, after she "took ill after the incident". The IMA has been taking legal advice, and helping the family fight the battle.

Dr Mangesh Pate, Secretary, IMA (Maharashtra) said that when the fire broke out, Dr Shinde and the nurses rushed to the nearby oxygen cylinder and shut the valves to stop the spread of the fire. "They later returned to save the patients. That's why they were missing from the CCTV footage for that period. One can't call them negligent," Dr Pate added. The November 6 fire broke out in the intensive care unit, where Covid-19 patients were admitted. The fire killed 14 people.

14
No. of people who died