Monday, February 9, 2009

Indian Medic Convicted for Manslaughter


Hippocrates Shamed: Priya Ramnath a 40 year old doctor of Indian-origin was given a six-month suspended jail term by a British Court after being found guilty of killing a patient by giving her a fatal injection of adrenaline against the advice of her colleagues, media reports said on Friday.

The Birmingham crown court on Friday convicted Ramnath, who worked in Britain's National Health Service, of manslaughter for her involvement in the death of Patricia Leighton at Stafford District General hospital in July 1998, reported the Guardian.

Ramnath, who lives in the US, had administered the fatal injection to Leighton, an intensive care patient against the advice of three of her colleagues. Leighton died of heart failure shortly after.

The prosecuting lawyer, Michael Burrows, told the court that within moments of receiving the jab, Leighton "jerked forward and sat bolt upright in her bed". He said she had shouted out: "What's happening to me? I am going to die."

Leighton, later, lost consciousness and her heart stopped and all efforts by the doctors to resuscitate her failed.

According to the prosecution, Ramnath failed to speak to a consultant anaesthetist at the hospital before injecting the drug into Leighton.

Ramnath, whose sentence was suspended for two years, came back from the US last February to face the charge after being threatened with extradition.

The jury, which had been considering its verdict since on Tuesday, found her guilty by a 10-2 majority.

(With Internet Inputs)

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