The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

‘Saving Lakshmi was a life-changing moment’
Chitleen K Sethi
Tribune News Service

Mohali, November 20
Sometimes it takes just a moment to change a life. For Dr Ashok Koul and his wife Dr Asha Koul saving the life of Lakshmi Tatma, the two-year-old Bihar girl who was born with four arms and four legs, was one such moment.

Part of the thirty-member team of doctors at the Sparsh Hospital in Bangalore, which carried out the one of the rarest surgeries in the world, the Kouls say Lakhsmi’s surgery has been one of the most professionally satisfying experience of their lives.

In Mohali to visit Asha’s parents, the couple added that at a higher plane, the high-risk surgery that lasted for 27 hours has proved that India has the best medical infrastructure in the world. “Only it needs to be better organised,” said Dr Ashok.

Dr Ashok was the head of the team of plastic surgeons, which operated upon Lakhsmi. “My job began when the work of all others ended at bout midnight on November 6. Among the entire team of doctors probably the work of the team of anaesthetists was the toughest,” he said. His wife, who was the senior anaesthetist during the surgery, says the operation went off very smoothly.

Lakshmi was born joined to a ‘parasitic twin’ that stopped developing in the mother’s womb. The team of surgeons separated her spinal column and kidney from that of her twin.

Medical suptd flouts own rules: UT
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 20
The UT secretary, Medical Education and Research, today pointed out before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) that the medical superintendent (MS) of GMCH, Sector 32, Dr Harish Mohan has flouted the rules.

Dr Harsh had filed a petition on November 5 on the plea that appointment of director-cum-principal through deputation was in violation of the constitution. Six heads of departments had moved to the CAT contesting the validity of the manner being adopted by the administration in appointing the principal of the medical institute.

Pleading before the Division Bench, advocate for secretary, senior advocate Girish Agnihotri and Binay Jeet stated: “Superintendent of the hospital was a member of the committee that framed the rules of Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh in 2002. The rule specifies that the principal for the hospital can be appointed on deputation.” They added that the MS has contested the same rule.

While the doctors pleaded that the administration wanted to appoint the director of the GMCH on deputation because of which the feeder cadre at the institution would be deprived of the opportunity to compete for the post.

The CAT has dismissed the demand of stay of the applicants on the process of appointment of principal. Defence lawyer Agnihotri said, “The tribunal has ordered the appointment of principal for the hospital as per the rules made by the administration.”

SPORTS

Jyoti, Devesh clinch singles titles
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 20
Jyoti Kaushik and Devesh Singhal of India clinched the girls and boys’ singles titles in the finals of the India Open International Masters Series 2007 Table Soccer Championship which concluded at the St Stephen's School.

Amritpal and Pawandeep emerged winners in the doubles by defeating Amanpreet and Antarpreet. The Under-17 singles title went to Devesh Singhal of India.

Zaiham and Jimmy of Malaysia won the open doubles title beating Arshad and Ankur of India. Indian pairs of Ashish and Ankit, Gurpreet Singh and Arjun and Gagan Chawala and Rahul finished third, fourth and fifth.

Singles: 1 Devesh Singhal, 2 Harvinder, 3 Mahinder Doubles: 1 Amritpal and Pawandeep, 2 Amanpreet and Antarpreet, 3 Varinder Singh and Jaiveer Open singles: 1 Koen (Belgium), 2 Zaiham (Malaysia), 3 Jyoti Kaushik

Open doubles: 1 Zaiham and Jimmy, 2 Arshad and Ankur, 3 Ashish and Ankit Girls singles: 1 Jyoti Kaushik, 2 Tarandeep, 3 Simran.