'I did not lie'; Dr Haris responds to show cause notice

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “I did not lie. Surgeries were stopped because the needed equipment was not available. I reacted emotionally for the patients. If I broke service rules, I apologise,” said Dr. Haris, Head of Urology at the Medical College, in his reply to a show-cause notice.

Dr. Haris had earlier spoken about the surgical crisis at the college, which led to the DME issuing the notice. An investigation found that on the day of his allegation, a surgery was performed in another unit. This raised the question of how that was possible without equipment.

In his reply, Dr. Haris said that Dr. Saju, head of the second Urology unit, had a probe equipment with him. It was not owned by the hospital but had been bought personally by Dr. Saju. “I cannot simply take it. Using something bought by someone else is wrong,” he stated.

The reply given to Medical College Principal Dr. P.K. Jabbar will be forwarded to Additional Chief Secretary for Health, Rajan N. Khobragade.

Essential supplies must be available on time

• Haris said the remark in the notice that he spread false information and discredited the government and the health department is not true.
• Surgeries were stopped because the probe used in the lithoclast for removing bladder stones was not purchased and supplied.
• Supplies from HDS must be provided faster—only then will the real problem be solved. That was what he was trying to achieve.