Doctors are supposed to help patients, but a recent investigation found that Dr. Rajesh Mehta, a senior surgeon at Symbiosis Hospital, was accused of asking for bribes. He allegedly wanted extra money from patients who needed urgent surgeries. The amounts he asked for were between ₹50,000 and ₹150,000. This issue came to light when three patients made formal complaints, leading to a scandal that’s hurting the hospital’s image.
The investigation showed that Dr. Mehta might’ve been asking for extra “consultation fees” from January to March 2023. He’d hold up important surgeries until patients or their families agreed to pay him extra money. He wanted this money in cash, and it wasn’t recorded in the hospital’s official records.
Looking at patient records, it was found that out of 127 surgeries done by Dr. Mehta in this time, 42 patients had to wait longer than usual for their operations. The delays lasted between 3 to 12 days. The Ethics Board noticed that 28% of these late surgeries matched with reports of strange cash transactions from the hospital’s accounts.
The hospital has put Dr. Mehta on leave while they investigate further. They’re also making new rules to keep better track of all money transactions. This includes keeping records of all payments, installing cameras in consultation rooms, and allowing patients to report issues anonymously.
Law enforcement has opened a case against Dr. Mehta for corruption and breaking trust. The State Medical Council is also looking into this and may take away his medical license if he’s found guilty.
This situation has raised awareness about other private hospitals in the region. The Health Ministry plans to check 47 major hospitals soon to ensure they aren’t doing anything wrong. A special task force has also been created to look into similar complaints about doctors and hospitals.
