Dr K. Sarathchandra, a cardiologist at the Nims and one of the three doctors suspended on the allegations for sheltering double-murder suspect Jairam Reddy, resigned on Monday after being reinstated. The resignation, when an inquiry against all the three doctors is pending, has given rise to speculations. Interestingly, even though the Nims office has declined to confirm the resignation, Dr Sarathchandra himself clarified that he had resigned. However, it is feared that the acceptance of any such resignation will make the Nims authorities a party to a conspiracy to bail him out. Dr Sarathchandra, along with former superintendent Dr Nimma Satyanarayana, was reinstated at Nims nearly a fortnight ago.
The two doctors had earlier given a joint representation to medical education minister K. Murali to consider their cases and reinstate them pending the finalisation of inquiry. A source from Nims said: “Violating Nims’ standing orders, the two doctors had submitted a representation to the medical education minister to consider their case. A letter to take their representation into consideration as per the rules of reinstatement was endorsed by the special chief secretary and sent to the Nims director. Based on this, the matter was placed before the 61st executive board meeting and their suspension order was revoked.”
Dr Sarathchandra said: “Yes, I have resigned upset with the conduct of the case. For six months, there was no enquiry but we were kept suspended. After being reinstated, again an enquiry was suddenly ordered. I am suffering for treating a patient about whose criminal background I was unaware of. We can’t discharge a patient against his will. We’re just being made scapegoats.”