Srinagar, Mar 30: Chief Medical Officer Anantnag today suspended MRI services at a private diagnostic centre with immediate effect after an inspection found misrepresentation of equipment and violations of patient safety norms.
The action was taken against ‘Care Plus Diagnostic Centre’ after the CMO office received a grievance alleging that the facility had misrepresented its MRI services.
An order issued by the CMO stated that a grievance alleging misrepresentation of MRI diagnostic facilities by Care Plus Diagnostic Centre, Anantnag, was received and taken cognizance of by this office.
Following the complaint, an inspection team was deputed to the facility to assess compliance with prescribed radiological and patient safety standards.
During the inspection, it was found that “the MRI system being operated at the facility is a 1.5 Tesla unit, contrary to the representation of a 3 Tesla MRI system made to patients, thereby amounting to material misrepresentation,” the order said.
The inspection also revealed deficiencies in emergency preparedness. The facility lacks essential emergency resuscitation equipment, namely AMBU (bag-valve-mask), and no qualified anesthetist was available at the time of inspection.
Terming the lapses serious, the authorities said “the lapses constitute violation of prescribed clinical protocols and compromise patient safety.”
In response, the CMO ordered that “the MRI services at Care Plus Diagnostic Centre, Anantnag, are hereby suspended with immediate effect,” directing the facility to cease all MRI-related diagnostic procedures forthwith until further orders.
The order warned that “any contravention of this order shall invite strict legal and penal action under applicable laws.”
Now, it is a question on other CMOs, that whether they will act like on such like concerns & labs to see the norms in public interest?
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