- Action after Damoh Hospital deaths
New Delhi/Bhopal – In a significant move following the tragic deaths of seven patients at Damoh’s Mission Hospital due to surgeries performed by a fraudulent cardiologist, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has mandated a nationwide verification of all doctors working in Cath Labs.
The NHRC has issued directives to the Union Health Secretary in this regard and has also urged state governments to conduct their own investigations. Furthermore, the commission has called upon the Income Tax Commissioner and Madhya Pradesh’s Economic Offences Wing to probe potential misuse of the Ayushman Bharat scheme in connection with this case.
The scandal at Mission Hospital centers around H. Narendra Yadav alias N. John Cam, who allegedly posed as a London-trained cardiologist and performed heart surgeries on numerous individuals, leading to seven fatalities. The NHRC took up the case on March 28, 2025, based on a complaint.
The commission has called for the registration of separate FIRs against the accused and management of Mission Hospital, citing charges related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, fraud, cheating, forgery, medical negligence, misconduct, and misappropriation of funds. Additionally, the NHRC emphasized the importance of its own investigation, alongside the Whistleblowers Protection Act, to expose any criminal syndicate involved.
Directives for action against Police and CMHO
The NHRC’s directives extend beyond the hospital, demanding answers regarding its insurance status and whether compensation was provided to the legal heirs of the deceased patients. The commission also questioned whether details of the surgeries, patient medical histories, potential risks and benefits, and treatment alternatives were shared with the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) of Damoh.
Crucially, the NHRC has called for action against police personnel and the CMHO, Damoh, for negligence in their investigations. The commission’s recommendations also include the cancellation of Mission Hospital’s license until the final resolution of the case, signaling a serious push for accountability and patient safety in the healthcare sector.
