Pune: Sassoon Hospital is undertaking significant reforms to enhance its administration. The hospital is emphasizing on transparency and discipline at every level. The effectiveness of these reforms, however, will depend on their implementation.

The process for each patient undergoing forensic examination begins in the emergency department, which is now being prioritized for transparency improvements. Changes are being coordinated with senior professors at the hospital, and an independent report will be prepared, followed by staff training. The focus is on meticulous planning, including how to document patient records, collect blood samples, and maintain detailed records in the forensic department.

There is also a consideration to redesign the emergency department. For this, the hospital will consult the Public Works Department. To monitor every movement in this department, the number of CCTV cameras will be increased. During the Kalyani Nagar accident, blood samples were taken in areas without cameras, highlighting the need for more robust transparency measures.

Dr. Ajay Taware, forensic sciences department head, and Dr. Shrihari Halnor, casualty medical officer at Sassoon General Hospital, were apprehended by Pune Police Crime Branch for allegedly destroying evidence related to the Porsche accident.

There have been allegations of evidence tampering in the blood samples of the minor involved in the Kalyani Nagar accident. The Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) had established a three-member committee to investigate the alleged misconduct by the two doctors. The report emphasized the shortcomings in the emergency department, prompting Sassoon Hospital administration to take corrective measures.

Dr. Taware was in communication with another suspect Ashpak Makandar, with more than 70 calls exchanged between them. Makandar played a significant role in the accident case. Investigating officers indicated that the manipulation of the blood sample occurred after discussions between Dr. Taware and Makandar. The investigation has also revealed that Agarwal contacted Ashpak and Amar to facilitate the payment to Dr. Taware.

Key Areas for Improvement

• Proper documentation of patient records

• Emphasizing the importance of accurate record-keeping in forensic cases

• Training doctors and staff in the emergency department

• Providing information on collecting various samples in forensic cases

• Ensuring staff focus on transparent operations