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The Hindu
15 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
DMC bars 2 Fortis doctors from claiming neonatology credentials pending inquiry into qualifications
The Delhi Medical Council (DMC) has ordered that two doctors associated with Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, to refrain from claiming specialist credentials or practicing as super-specialists in neonatology, pending an inquiry into their qualifications. This action comes in the wake of a long-standing legal battle over the alleged medical negligence that left a child in a permanent vegetative state. In the May 21 order addressed to Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, the DMC said: 'Considering the material on record and information received from the UK General Medical Council regarding Dr. Vivek Jain, the Executive Committee of the Delhi Medical Council, in the public interest, takes the prima facie view that, pending further inquiry, both Dr. Akhilesh Singh and Dr. Vivek Jain should refrain from claiming neonatologist status and practicing as super-specialists'. 'Their credentials as qualified pediatricians are also pending inquiry,' the DMC said. The decision was taken at a meeting of the DMC's Executive Committee held on May 19, 2025, following a complaint by Mr Sachin Jain — father of five-year-old Devarsh Jain — who has accused the two doctors of endangering public health by practicing as specialist without qualifications. Also read: Five-year-old in vegetative state, parents move court Based on available records, the council found that Dr. Akhilesh Singh is registered only with an MBBS qualification. 'He thus cannot claim himself to be a specialist,' the DMC said. The controversy traces back to 2017 when Devarsh Jain was born at Fortis Hospital and allegedly suffered a hypoxic brain injury during his neonatal care. According to the petition filed before the Delhi High Court, the parents claimed that Dr. Jain and Dr. Singh were allowed to function as neonatologists without the requisite qualifications, contributing to the child's severe and irreversible condition. The child's father alleged that after the injury was inflicted, the hospital concealed the true extent of the damage, discharged the baby with a 'healthy' status, and later misled the parents during follow-up consultations. The child was eventually diagnosed with West Syndrome, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy after months of untreated seizures and spasms. The petition claims that timely medical intervention could have significantly mitigated his suffering. A 2019 DMC order had earlier exonerated the doctors, stating that standard medical protocols were followed. However, the High Court stayed that order in 2020, and the matter has remained under judicial scrutiny since. On March 12 this year, the Delhi High Court directed the DMC to file affidavits clarifying whether the doctors' qualifications entitled them to practice as specialists in India. On May 5, the DMC informed the court that an inquiry had been initiated into their credentials.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Refrain from practising as super specialists: Delhi Medical Council to Fortis' doctors
The Delhi Medical Council (DMC) has asked two doctors of Fortis Hospital in Shalimar Bagh to refrain from claiming neonatologist status and practising as super specialists amid an ongoing inquiry. In a letter to the medical superintendent of the hospital, the council informed that the two doctors — Dr Akhilesh Singh and Dr Vivek Jain — cannot claim the status. 'Their credentials as qualified pediatricians are also pending inquiry,' the DMC said. The council wrote the letter to the hospital based on a complaint received against the two doctors and a Delhi High Court order that followed. The Delhi Medical Council's Executive Committee has also sought a reply from the private hospital and the doctors. In a statement, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, said that the order has been passed without their knowledge or opportunity for the doctors to present their case. 'We are astonished by the recent order, which seems to have been passed without our knowledge or opportunity for the doctors to present their case. The lack of prior notice for any hearing raises concerns about the order's validity. Notably, the Delhi Medical Council's 2023 affidavit to the Hon'ble High Court did not question the doctors' qualifications, making this development surprising. We are currently reviewing the order and will take appropriate legal action. Given the matter's sub judice status, we will refrain from further comments at this time,' said Fortis Hospital. While Dr Vivek Jain refused to comment on the matter, Dr Akhilesh said he has not received the DMC order yet. A writ petition was filed in the Delhi High Court against the two doctors, where the mother of a five-year-old boy alleged that the hospital deliberately concealed his birth injury and deprived him of timely treatment. According to the petition filed by Advocate Sachin Jain on behalf of the woman, her child suffered brain hypoxic injury at Fortis Hospital during his birth in 2017. The woman alleged that the hospital concealed this injury from her by fabricating the child's medical records. 'The child eventually became permanently vegetative and developed a rare medical condition known as 'West Syndrome'. He is living in deep pain and suffering from a high degree of epilepsy and cerebral palsy,' the petition underlined. She also claimed that the child remained in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Fortis Hospital for 11 days after birth. Then, Dr Vivek Jain and Dr Akhilesh Singh discharged the child, stating that there is no sign of any injury. Jain also submitted a complaint with the DMC and alleged that the two doctors are unqualified but have been practising in the Neonatal ICU at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi. 'They don't even possess the requisite qualifications to be an expert or a specialist. Yet, they are practicing in these critical units of a super-speciality hospital and administering treatment to critically ill neonates and infants, thereby posing a serious threat to their lives and limbs,' he said. In March, the High Court directed the DMC and National Medical Council to file an affidavit on the qualifications of the two doctors.
