This fake cardiologist performed 50-plus heart surgeries at Faridabad hospital in 7 months
Faridabad: An MBBS doctor masquerading as a cardiologist performed more than 50 heart procedures over seven months before his fraudulent practice was discovered. Though a qualified doctor, Pankaj Mohan Sharma put countless lives at risk at a heartcare centre in Badshah Khan civil hospital because he was not authorised to perform critical cardiac surgeries.
Dr Sharma came under cops' scanner when Sanjay Gupta — a lawyer and social activist — lodged a complaint at NIT Faridabad police station on April 11, quoting sources to allege he bagged additional degrees based on forged documents. Preliminary probe revealed that the accused had been operating under a stolen identity, misappropriating national medical commission's registration number assigned to Dr Pankaj Mohan, a legitimate cardiologist practising in the city.
Police said Dr Sharma was hired in July last year by Mediterina Hospital, which runs the heartcare centre at Badshah Khan on a public-private partnership mode.
"The hospital management continued to employ an unqualified and fraudulent doctor who lacks any degree or recognised specialisation in cardiology. Dr Sharma falsely claimed qualifications of MD and DNB (cardiology), which are entirely fraudulent," said lawyer Gupta.
After coming to know about the fraud, Dr Mohan lodged a complaint with IMA in Jan this year, alleging illegal use of his credentials by the other doctor. He also slapped a legal notice on Dr Sharma.
What raised eyebrows was that Dr Sharma suddenly stopped attending the centre in Feb after being asked to produce his medical degree. "Many patients began enquiring about him and eventually visited the real Dr Pankaj Mohan. When Dr Mohan clarified that he had never worked at the heart centre, the allegations strengthened," said a doctor at Badshah Khan.
Adding another layer to the deception, Dr Sharma maintained a Facebook profile under the name 'Kshitiz Mohan' and was listed as the director of a film production firm, raising more questions on his medical credentials.
Dr M Pratap Kumar, CMD of Mediterina Hospital who also heads the heart centre at Badshah Khan, confirmed that Dr Sharma had been removed. "He applied through formal HR channels as a general physician.
We always had suspicion about his DM (cardiology) degree and acted on it," he said.
"We have sought details related to the doctor from the CMO. We want to know how he was recruited as he served in the civil hospital for months. We are, however, yet to get any record. Only after we have all the details, we will initiate legal action," said Yashpal, a spokesperson for police.
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