Karnataka doctor, nurse suspended after patients made to clean cesspit

A doctor and a nurse at a taluk hospital in Karnataka's Haveri district have been suspended pending a departmental inquiry after two patients were allegedly made to manually clean a cesspit at the hospital, officials said on Tuesday.

The Health and Family Welfare Services department suspended Administrative Medical Officer Dr Shankar Hiregowdar and Senior Nursing Officer Vanitha Kurundawad with immediate effect on Monday. The action followed the circulation of photographs and videos on social media showing the two patients, who had come to the hospital for treatment on August 28, allegedly cleaning the cesspit manually, officials said.

According to a government order, the nurse had allegedly instructed patients known to her and their relatives to manually clean the hospital's cesspit. The order said Dr Hiregowdar was responsible for allowing the incident to take place at the hospital.

The order said Karnataka has prohibited the manual removal of human excreta and treats such acts as punishable under law. It added that a case has been registered at Savanur Police Station under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which penalises any rash or negligent act that endangers human life or the personal safety of others, along with relevant provisions of the law banning manual removal of human excreta.

It further said the two officials had committed serious illegal acts and shown dereliction of duty. Officials said their conduct was 'unbecoming' of government servants and reflected negligence, irresponsibility and illegal acts in the discharge of their duties, in violation of relevant provisions of the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 2021.

Officials said the suspension was ordered to allow a fair and impartial departmental inquiry and to prevent any possible tampering with documents or influence on witnesses. The case relates to the alleged manual cleaning of a hospital cesspit by two patients who had come there for treatment.