Pune: Medical Education Department Probes Blood Sample Tampering At Sassoon Hospital In Porsche Accident
Mumbai/Pune, 27th May 2024: In the aftermath of the Kalyani Nagar Porsche accident involving a minor, it has been revealed that the blood samples taken from the accused were substituted with those of another individual. This discovery has prompted swift action from the Department of Medical Education and Research (DMER). Rajeev Nivatkar, Commissioner of Medical Education and AYUSH, has ordered an inquiry and established a three-member committee to investigate the matter.
Dr. Pallavi Saple, Dean of Grant Government Medical College and Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, will chair the committee. The other members include Dr. Gajanan Chavan, Professor of Forensic Medicine at Grant Government Medical College and Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals, and Dr. Sudhir Chaudhari, Special Duty Officer at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Government Medical College and Super Speciality Hospital.
The committee is scheduled to visit B.J. Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital on 28th May to conduct a comprehensive investigation. They will review all relevant documents and submit their findings and recommendations to the Directorate of Medical Education.
Additionally, the Medical Education Department has requested a report from Dr. Vinayak Kale, Dean of Sassoon General Hospital, regarding the suspension of the involved officers. Based on this report, it is anticipated that Dr. Ajay Taware, Head of the Forensic Medicine Department, CMO Dr. Shrihari Holnur, and Atul Ghatkamble will face suspension.
The investigation was triggered by the revelation that the blood samples of the minor accused, taken after the accident, had been swapped with those of another person before being sent for testing at the Forensic Science Lab (FSL). This has raised serious concerns about procedural integrity and accountability within the medical and forensic departments.
