A Kerala doctor has found herself in a soup after the District Medical Office (DMO) in Thrissur alleged she was "propagating false information about the coronavirus". It is likely that a case will be registered against Dr Shinu Syamalan.
In a Facebook post, the doctor had alleged that a patient who approached her in a private clinic had displayed symptoms of the virus. When he was asked to report his arrival from Qatar to the state Health Department, he refused, she said. Syamalan also alleged that though she had alerted the health department of the patient's refusal to undergo the medical check-up on time, it was only after media reports started appearing that they decided to take action. "When he was asked whether he had visited any foreign countries, he said he was coming from Qatar. But he had not reported to the health department about his foreign trip," she said.
Syamalan also said she was sacked by the management of the private clinic she was working with for informing authorities about the NRI patient "The argument of the management is that no one would turn up for treatment in the clinic if they come to know that it was visited by patients with suspected symptoms of Coronavirus," she said. There was no immediate reaction from the management of the private health clinic.
The DMO had refuted her claims. The DMO explained that the NRI had completed his observation period before travelling abroad. They also lashed out at the doctor for painting the entire medical service community in a bad light. The DMO has already approached the district collector against the doctor. Health Minister K.K. Shailaja had repeatedly warned that strict action will be taken against all those who propagate false information.
-Inputs from Onmanorama, PTI