Ex-serviceman arrested after he administered injection to infant

An ex-serviceman, who operated a pharmacy store in

Madikeri, a popular hill-station in Karnataka, has been

arrested by the police after he administered an

antibiotics injection to an infant, who died of medical

complications.

An ex-serviceman, who operated a pharmacy store in Madikeri, a popular hill-station

in Karnataka, has been arrested by the police after he administered an antibiotics

injection to an infant, who died of medical complications.

Though he was not a qualified medical doctor by education, he was renowned in the

region as “military doctor”, as he was their “messiah” in times of distress by doubling

up as a physician.

The police exhumed the body of the 18-months-old infant for a detailed autopsy after

the had buried their child. According to the police, Ganapathi, who operated the

‘Deshik Medicals’ in Koppa near Madikeri in Kodagu district, was illegally prescribing

and administering medicine to villagers in the region. So far, none had registered a

police complaint against him.

On January 3, when infant Srujan developed fever, his parents (Mohan and Kokila)

took him to the popular “military doctor”, who diagnosed the baby with viral fever. He

administered injections on January 3, 5 and 7, but didn’t inform the parents about the

medication.

On January 11, the baby died because of medical complication and the

unsuspecting parents buried the body of the child. A few educated persons in the

town informed the parents that Ganapathi was not a qualified doctor. Subsequently,

the parents of the child approached the police seeking justice.

Initially, Ganapathi pretended to be a qualified doctor but failed to provide any

academic records. Consequently, the police arrested Ganapathi and subjected him

to interrogation. Now, the police are ascertaining whether Ganapathi is a qualified

pharmacist.

“He might have acquired basic knowledge in administering medicine. He managed to

survive all these years by eluding the authorities concerned. He admitted to have

administered antibiotics to the child without knowing the side effects. We are waiting

for the autopsy report before proceeding against Ganapathi,” the Kodagu district

police said.

The officials of the Department of Health & Family Welfare inspected the “clinic”

operated by Ganapathi and declared it illegal. “Unfortunately, people do not bring to

our notice activities of such fake doctors.

They realise the mistake only when something untoward happens. Such quacks

operate in every part of the state and people should avoid such people,” said Dr T

Satish, a consultant pathologist for government hospital in Mysuru region