Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has found a doctor of an urban health center guilty of medical negligence causing the death of a woman and has ordered him to pay Rs 5 lakh compensation to the patients husband.

On Wednesday, a full bench of the AHRC, including its chairperson Justice T Vaiphei, found Dr Ghanashyam Thakuria of Ambari Urban Health Centre, guilty of medical negligence that has led to the death of Pinky Das in 2017, an AHRC press release said.

The Commission mentioned that the amount has to be paid by Dr Thakuria to the patients husband within two months. The AHRC release said that as the employer of the charged officer, it is open to the State Government to pay the said amount on his behalf and recover the same from his salary by instalment or otherwise.

Acase was registered by AHRC on the basis of a complaint filed by the patients husband in October, 2017. Pinky Das had consulted the doctor with symptoms of backache, mild fever, lower abdominal pain and burning sensation. During her examination, she had normal blood pressure and pulse, but tenderness on her lower abdomen and both sides of her kidney region, which were diagnosed as symptoms of urinary tract infection.

The accused doctor had prescribed injections and drips after which the patient developed complications. She was immediately referred to the MMC Hospital but died before receiving any treatment.

The release said that the Commission called for an inquiry report from the state Director of Health and Family Welfare in which it was concluded that there was no medical negligence on the part of Dr Thakuria. The Commission observed with surprise as to how a patient who, at the time of her examination by the doctor was admittedly having back pain only and can die after taking the prescribed drug. An independent opinion was sought from an expert or specialist in medicine from the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital wherein no negligence by the charged doctor was found.

The AHRC said that in the absence of proper explanation by the charged officer, the Commission had no other option but to hold Dr Thakuria guilty of medical negligence which resulted in the death of Pinky Das.