Sushila Devi, whose gall bladder was operated upon instead of her right leg at SKMCH. Telegraph picture

Muzaffarpur, Sept. 15: The district unit of Indian Medical Association (IMA), sensing police action in the Sushila Devi case, has threatened to cripple healthcare in the state by resorting to an indefinite strike.

However, reluctant doctors rejoined duty at Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) today, following persuasion by the hospital authorities.

Senior IMA members of the district held an urgent meeting at the Town Club last night and decided to sport black badges for three days as a mark of protest against Dr H.N. Bhardwaj’s interrogation at Barhampura police station on Tuesday night. The IMA threatened to resort to strike if the district police dared to arrest any doctor in connection with the wrong surgery on Sushila.

The IMA district president, Dr M.M. Rahim, along with IMA office-bearers, including the superintendent of SKMCH, Dr G.K. Thakur, the principal Dr D.K. Sinha, Dr Kamlesh Tiwary, Dr B.B. Thakur, Dr B.N. Jha, Dr Bhartendu, Dr R.K. Tondon, Dr Braj Mohan and several others, discussed the situation at length and decided to wear black badges for three days to protest against police action against Dr Bhardwaj.

“The IMA condemns the manner in which the police interrogated Dr Bhardwaj at Barhampura police station,” said Dr Rahim. The IMA has expressed gratitude to the medical fraternity for liberating Dr Bhardwaj from the clutches of the police. Meanwhile, SKMCH has furnished the inquiry report of the internal committee probed by the head department of medicine Dr Kamlesh Tiwary and five other doctors.

The committee has made it clear that Sushila was operated upon in Dr R.N. Mishra’s unit of operation theatre. Dr Quamaruddin, a contractual surgeon, had removed the gall bladder in the presence of Dr R.N. Mishra in the operation theatre. On other hand, the junior doctors, who remained reluctant to treat indoor and outdoor patients and suspended medical services yesterday, returned to their work following persuasion by the SKMCH authorities.