October 1: An 8-year-old girl, who was a resident of Bhoidapada in Vasai East, was allegedly given two injections by a doctor. A few hours later she lost her life under tragic circumstances.
The victim, identified as Mariyam Mohammed Ansari, lived with her parents in Vasai (E). Around 8:30 pm on Monday, her mother took her to a local clinic named Rahul Clinic in Rajavali after she started experiencing bouts of vomiting.
The clinician in charge of the facility, a 42-year-old man named Dhupchand Nishad, examined her and administered two injections in both of her upper arms. He also prescribed certain medicines to her and sent her home.
The next morning, Mariyam’s condition further deteriorated. She started bleeding from her nose and mouth and lost her life.
Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) immediately launched an investigation following her death.
The head of the civic health department, Dr. Bhakti Chaudhary confirmed that Nishad is not registered with the Maharashtra Medical Council. Nishad is an electro-homeopathy practitioner, not a certified allopathic doctor. Dr. Chaudhary clearly stated that such practitioners are strictly prohibited from prescribing allopathic medicines or administering injections.
The electro-homeopathy clinic was inspected by a civic health department team that found a plethora of allopathic medicines at the facility. The team also seized used and broken allopathic injections and medicines from the clinic.
Pradeep Kerkar, who is a senior inspector in Mumbai police, said that a viscera report is expected within a week. The Waliv police sent the girl’s body for a postmortem investigation. The viscera report would help the police in identifying the real cause of her death.
The exact cause of death remains undetermined, pending the postmortem findings and viscera report.
According to Loksatta, Nishad denied the allegation that incorrect treatment caused the girl's death and said that the truth would emerge after the investigation.
Meanwhile, acting on a complaint by civic medical officer Dr. Srinivas Dudhamal, Waliv police lodged an FIR under Section 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and under Sections 33 and 33(A) of the medical practitioners’ law for alleged cheating and practising medicine without authorization.
Police also served Nishad a notice after registering the case.
(Rh/MF/MSM)