In a shocking incident in Kozhikode, Kerala, a fake doctor has been arrested following the death of a 60-year-old patient due to alleged medical negligence. The accused, identified as Abu Abraham Luke, was serving as the Resident Medical Officer (RMO) at TMH Hospital in Kottakkadavu near Kadalundi.
The incident came to light after the family of the deceased, Vinod Kumar, filed a complaint with the Feroke Police. Vinod Kumar was admitted to the hospital on September 23 with severe chest pain and was declared dead within half an hour of admission.
Discovery of the Fake Doctor
The family's suspicions arose when Vinod's son, Dr. Ashwin Pachatt Vinod, an alumnus of AIIMS Delhi, reviewed his father's medical records. Dr. Ashwin, who is an academic senior resident at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, discovered that Abu Abraham Luke had not cleared his MBBS exam and was using another doctor's registration number to practice.
According to Dr. Ashwin, the medical records showed significant incompetence, including the lack of mention of CPR cycles and medication administered. Dr. Ashwin expressed his regret and anger over the situation, highlighting that his family was misled by the fake doctor's assurances that nothing more could have been done to save his father.
Background of the Accused
Abu Abraham Luke, a native of Thiruvalla, had enrolled in an MBBS program at a private medical college in Mukkam, Kozhikode, in 2011 but failed to clear the second year of his MBBS exams. Despite this, he had been working illegally as an RMO in various hospitals for several years, using the registration number of another doctor.
The hospital authorities admitted that they were unaware of Luke's qualifications until the complaint was filed. Luke had provided a fake registration number during his recruitment and had been employed by the hospital for two days a week based on his claimed experience at other facilities.
Legal Action and Public Reaction
The Feroke Police have taken Abu Abraham Luke into custody under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Indian Medical Council Act. The family has demanded legal action against both Luke and the hospital authorities for their negligence.
The incident has sparked widespread concern about the verification processes in medical institutions. Kerala Health Minister Veena George emphasized the duty of medical institutions to ensure that only registered doctors provide medical services.
This case highlights the critical need for stringent verification of medical qualifications and the importance of ethical practices in healthcare. The public is calling for stricter regulations to prevent such incidents in the future.
