Panhala doc sent on forced leave for being ‘drunk on job’

Kolhapur: A doctor stationed at a rural hospital in Panhala was sent on forced leave after a video surfaced showing him in an intoxicated state while on the job.The incident came to light when relatives of an elderly patient arrived at the facility and discovered the doctor severely inebriated.According to those present, the doctor was unable to walk steadily or speak coherently despite being the designated officer on ward duty at the time of the patient's admission. The relatives recorded the video before shifting their patient to the CPR Hospital in Kolhapur city.Deputy director health (Kolhapur division) Dilip Mane on Sunday issued an order stating that the doctor has been sent on forced leave till next order. Meanwhile, district civil surgeon Prashant Wadikar has sought the doctor's suspension. He has also issued a show-cause notice to medical superintendent Sunil Chandeo Abhivant and appointed a panel of three doctors to investigate the incident and submit the report.On Saturday night, the relatives along with the patient, who complained about vertigo, came to the rural hospital. There they found the doctor was not in position to treat the patient. The available nursing staff and ward boys carried out the primary treatment. The relatives then called the 108 Ambulance service and took the patient to the CPR Hospital where he is currently being treated.Wadikar, while speaking to TOI, said, "Sometime back when the doctor was in Kagal, there was a complaint about his negligence towards a patient. During the recent Jyotiba Yatra, I had warned him not to get drunk on duty. I have asked the medical superintendent to reply to the show-cause notice as it seems that he failed to keep a check on the behaviour of his staff. We want to know where he was, what steps he had taken. I have written to higher authorities to suspend the medical officer."Wadikar has appointed a panel of three doctors -- Dr Sunil Kurundwade, Dr Sarita Thorat and Dr Amit Sohani -- to visit the rural hospital and investigate the case.