Medical fraternity slams doc’s suspension over Facebook post

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 19

The termination of services of a doctor for his alleged “anti-government” remark on Facebook has snowballed into a big controversy. Doctors are enraged over the move and are threatening to suspend OPD and emergency services at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Jammu if the order to sack the doctor is not revoked within 48 hours.

Dr Amit Kumar alleged that he had received “threats” from close aides of the Health Minister asking him to remove the Facebook post or face consequences.

“We have written a letter to the GMCH Principal, requesting her to revoke the termination of services of Dr Amit Kumar, who even submitted a letter of unconditional apology to her office for his comment on Facebook,” Dr Sourabh Katoch, president of Resident Doctors Association (RDA), GMC, Jammu, told mediapersons here.

“We stand united with Dr Amit Kumar who is a dedicated, honest and hard-working registrar of this institution. We appeal to the GMC administration to revoke his termination order with immediate effect and if the order is not revoked in the next 48 hours, we will be forced to stop OPD services from Wednesday morning,” he said.

He said various services in the hospital would be suspended in a phased manner. “Routine surgical procedures in main Operation Theatres (OTs) will be stopped after OPD services. Thereafter, routine college academic activities, including lectures and clinical classes, would be suspended and in the last phase, we will stop all emergency services from March 24,” Dr Katoch said.

In a Facebook post on March 10, Health Minister Bali Bhagat said he had inaugurated a new lift at the hospital. However, Dr Amit Kumar reportedly commented on Bhagat’s Facebook post, pointing out that it was not a new lift.

The GMC administration, in an order on March 15, said it had terminated the “engagement of Dr Amit Kumar, Registrar” as he “used his personal social media account (Facebook) and commented with the intent of provoking readers”.

Controversy over lift

In a Facebook post on March 10, Health Minister Bali Bhagat said he had  inaugurated a new lift at the hospital. However, Dr Amit Kumar  reportedly pointed out in a comment on the post that it was not a new lift. Thereafter, the GMC administration, in an order on March 15, said it had terminated the engagement of Dr Amit Kumar as he used his personal social media account and commented “with the intent of provoking readers”.

Omar lashes out at govt 

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday termed the ruling Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition “dictatorial” after it sacked a doctor for his alleged anti-government post on Facebook. “Ministers can protest to defend rape/murder accused but a doctor can’t point out the truth.

"I had tendered an unconditional apology in plain words but I was told that my reply was unsatisfactory. I got political threats from the PRO of the Health Minister that if I did not remove my posts, I would have to face consequences. I did not write anything against the government or the minister nor was it a misconduct." — Dr Amit Kumar