Mumbai: A cleaning staff member at Shatabdi Hospital in Govandi performed an echocardiogram (ECG) on a patient on December 29, leading to a legal notice demanding an investigation into the incident. Advocate Abid Abbas Sayyed, who sent the notice to various state authorities, including the chief minister and public health department, termed the incident a gross violation of medical protocols and patient safety.
Hospital Defends Staffer Over Performing Procedure
The hospital has not denied the incident but defended the staff member, stating that he was ‘educated and qualified enough to conduct the procedure.’ According to a Hindustan Times report, a hospital representative clarified, “The ECG machine operates with the press of a button. The staff member merely conducted the test, while doctors analyzed the reports. This incident has been unnecessarily politicised and misunderstood.”
However, Sayyed’s notice criticised the hospital’s justification, stating that only qualified medical personnel should perform such procedures. He emphasized that this was a breach of safety and ethics, pointing to a lack of accountability and oversight in government healthcare facilities. Highlighting the incident’s seriousness, he called for an investigation and systemic reforms to ensure trained professionals attend to patients.
The notice also raised broader concerns, including reports of government hospital doctors running private clinics in violation of regulations. Sayyed argued that such practices erode trust in public healthcare and undermine accountability mechanisms.
In defense, a hospital representative stated that the patient involved was undergoing a routine check-up and was not critically ill. The official also mentioned measures to address concerns, including deploying female staff to assist female patients and striving to deliver quality care despite staff shortages.
Sayyed’s notice stressed that incidents like these highlight the importance of supervision, adequate training and proper resources in public healthcare facilities. “Patients deserve to be treated by qualified professionals, and such lapses are a worrying trend,” he stated.
While the hospital administration described the situation as a misunderstanding, Sayyed’s notice sheds light on the need for stronger protocols to prevent similar occurrences and restore public confidence in government-run hospitals.
