Court pulls up doctor over Katta health report

BANGALORE: The Medical Superintendent of Victoria Hospital on Monday faced the wrath of the Lokayukta Special Court over the health report of former minister Katta Subrahmanya Naidu, who is in judicial custody.Lokayukta Court Judge K N Sudheendra Rao, seeking a verification of Naidu’s health from officials of Victoria Hospital, had asked them to submit the report on Monday. But on Monday morning, angered at not getting satisfactory replies from specialists, the judge asked the hospital’s Medical Superintendent Dr B G Tilak to be present before the court.When Tilak was asked by the judge why he had referred Naidu for treatment in London, he replied that he had not given the report. The judge asked Tilak to read a particular para of the report. An embarrassed Tilak read out the para, which said Victoria Hospital has no facilities to treat Naidu and had advised treatment elsewhere. The judge asked him to read another param which said that “since Naidu has been suffering from cancer, he must get stem cell treatment at London”. Venting his ire on Tilak, the judge said, “You said you did not give that report. Now it is proved your report has mentioned the same,” He further added, “Based on documents, the court has to decide on granting bail. This report will be sent to the Indian Medical Council. If your report is proved wrong, then you will have to face the consequences.”When Tilak said that it was not him but a doctor treating Naidu who had prepared the report, the judge shot back saying, “You signed this report and are solely responsible for it.”