Imagine entrusting the life of your child to a hospital like Fortis, only to find out the doctors in charge of your child's care are unqualified and provided deceitful and damaging healthcare. This isn't just a hypothetical situation; it's the harrowing reality faced by Sapna Jain, whose child, Devarsh Jain, tragically plunged into a lifelong vegetative state (Mental and Physical Paralysis) in 2017 due to the malpractice of two unqualified doctors, Dr. Vivek Jain and Dr. Akhilesh Singh, at Fortis, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi. Despite the National Medical Council discovering anomalies in their degrees and acknowledging this in the Delhi High Court, these two culpable doctors continue to practice, and the hospital continues to function without any impediment. Recognizable media outlets like 'The Hindu', 'The Print', 'News18', 'Economic Times' and many more have also exposed this shocking deception, intensifying our call for action.

1. What exactly do I mean when I say the doctors are unqualified?
As per the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, it takes:

11 years (MBBS + MD + Neonatology training) to become a super-specialist neonatologist
Or, a doctor must hold a Certification of Completion of Training (CCT) and be enrolled as a specialist on the General Medical Council (GMC) register
However, in this particular case and many others, Fortis has given fake designations to doctors without the necessary specialist or super-specialist qualifications, misleading innocent patients.

Examples of Irregularities:
  Dr. Akhilesh Singh, designated as a Neonatologist in Fortis, is only an MBBS but has been handling critically ill newborns in the NICU. The diplomas he has do not qualify him as a neonatologist.
  Source: Delhi Medical Council & National Medical Commission affidavits submitted in the Delhi High Court (Para 13 & Para 27 respectively). DMC Affidavit​, NMC Affidavit

  Dr. Vivek Jain, who is the Head of NICU, has falsely claimed to be a super-specialist despite not having completed his studies overseas. His M.R.C.P. Ch. (UK) degree takes 6-8 years, yet he claims to have finished it in just 2-3 years—which is not possible.
  Source: His statement in the police report submitted in the Delhi High Court, where he admits to not having a completion certificate.

For a detailed breakdown, please refer to the Delhi High Court Petition_2023 (Point 4, Page 2).

Further, Medical negligence isn’t new at Fortis. Here are a few past incidents:

Financial Misconduct: Over ₹400 crores were siphoned off by Fortis' former promoters. (Source: Finshots)
Dengue Overcharging Case: A 7-year-old girl was overcharged ₹16 lakh for dengue treatment before passing away. (Source: Scroll)
Regulatory Actions: SEBI issued notices in the Fortis fund diversion case due to misrepresentation and fraud. (Source: Business Standard)

This tragic incident is far from isolated. It's a malfeasance that reveals the dire state of our healthcare system. It is estimated that in India, about 57% of modern medicine practitioners did not have a medical qualification according to a study by the World Health Organization. It's essential to understand that this negligence isn’t isolated to one hospital, but the verified action against these practitioners can act as a precedent for the entire medical industry in India. If such incidents go unchecked in reputed private hospitals, the safety and health of all are compromised.

Stemming from a personal story, we believe our plea echoes the sentiment of many Indians who trust these institutions with their lives. This is a fight for justice, not just for Devarsh and Sapna but for every patient who places their faith in the hands of hospitals and doctors. 

Our immediate action demands are twofold: 
1)    Immediate termination and legal action against the fake specialists working in Fortis Hospital
2)    To take strict action against Fortis for enabling such malpractice
3)     We also call upon the Health Department of The Delhi Government and the Health Ministry of the Central Government to take immediate action and address the larger issue of unqualified doctors practicing in our healthcare system by implementing stricter regulations and continuous monitoring.

Our fight is for justice; for a reliable healthcare system where something like this never happens to anyone, ever again. Let us unite and lend a hand to this cause that aims to protect countless lives. Please sign this petition.