Kodela plans defamation suit

HYDERABAD: Health minister Kodela Sivaprasada Rao on Wednesday said he would start defamation proceedings against freedom fighter K B Tilak for going to the press with his views on the AP High Court’s show cause notice on alleged irregularities at the Niloufer Hospital.
“The issue is under the court’s consideration and what Tilak did amounts to contempt of court.Even before the parties in the case could respond to the court’s notice, their reputation was maligned by discussing the subject in public,� Kodela said.
On Monday, Tilak filed a PIL alleging largescale irregularities in the hospital. He had also alleged that the minister’s daughter — a doctor — had conducted operations at the hospital, without the necessary clearances.
The whole campaign, the minister claimed, was with ill intention and whoever was behind it would not be spared. “The truth will be out,� he said.
About his daughter, Dr Vijayalakshmi, who received a court notice, he said: “She is a qualified hand, an MD in gynaecology from a reputed institute.� Countering the allegations that she wasn’t connected to the hospital and yet conducted surgeries at Niloufer, Rao said the superintendent had appointed her as a “senior honorary unpaid resident�.
Dr Vijayalakshmi, he added, was holding the same position when the controversial surgery, in which a child died, was conducted. Citing written statements, the minister said: “Dr Vijayalakshmi did not conduct the surgery, she only assisted the head of department who performed the surgery.�
Citing medical reports, he said the deceased was in a critical condition because of anaemia and it was improper to say that the death was due to the operating doctor’s mistake. “When such patients are being operated, there is a certain risk factor and the patients’ relatives are duly informed about this in advance,� Rao said.
Asked about Dr Vijayalakshmi not signing the registers and not performing the duties of a normal resident, he said: “How she conducts herself in the hospital is up to the hospital authorities to decide.�
“If there was any indiscipline, it should certainly be looked into and acted upon, or if there was abuse of power, that too should be addressed in a proper manner,� the minister said.
Director-general of medical and health services Dr K Anji Reddy and director of medical education Dr S Sasi Prabha were present at the press conference.