Hospitals turn Havens for Criminals

After the Satyam scam, the accused owner B Ramalinga Raju  has managed to stay on in 5 star comfort rather than in the usual jail, thanks to his loyal pack of doctors and lawyers. They could convince the court and extract an exemption citing his multiple medical problems, including high blood pressure. 

He, like 30% of the Indian population of his age, had  high blood pressure for several years, even in the good Satyam times. Surveys of urban Indians show that around 70%  have one or more of the follwing health problems: high blood pressure, diabetes, weight related problems such as obesity or painful knees, heartburn (acidity), fatty liver disease, occasional breatlessness or chest discomfort, sleeplessness or thyroid dysfunction. Most would be on periodic checkups or on some medications for them.

What then is the big deal? They remain party goers and globe trotters with these “medical problems” till the police comes calling. Suddenly then doctors and lawyers are summoned, who move the courts to paint him seriously ill and seek protection from being sent to jail, getting him admitted to a hospital instead. Hospitals  ofcourse, are more respectable places, and allow co-conspirators, relatives and “well wishers” to come and meet easily, permit the accused to remain in touch through communication devices, and are easier places to run away from. Harshad Mehta, Abdul Karim Telgi, the Johri brothers of Century Consultants, Manu Sharma are some glaring examples.

And doctors are easier people to deal with. You can get them to certify for you through either inducements (politicians use their power to scuttle their transfers or arrange promotions, businessmen compensate by other means) or threats.

An accused politician once turned up as a patient and demanded that he be kept in our private ward for weeks till all his tests were done. Each day he had a new complaint that needed further tests. After 5 days when I was exasperated and suggested that we perform a colonoscopy necessitating pushing a 2 meter pipe up through his anus, he demanded transfer to cardiology ward, where he hstayed for another week.

Why are the police so cautious, and the courts so lenient convict complain of ill health? The lesson of Rajan Pillai, the Britannia baron is hard to forget. This high profile convict had complained of chest pain and blood vomiting, but the police and the judge had ignored his request for medical attention suspecting him to be malingering. He was subsequently bled to death in jail, from ruptured esophageal varices due to his liver cirrhosis caused by alcohol. Civil society was scathing in its attack on the police and the court. No one now wants to take a chance any more.

While the “voiceless”   aam jail inmates seem to have no symptoms and hardly require any medical attention it is interesting that considerable concern is shown by the police, courts and doctors to hig profile convicts. Playing safe is good, but an over-cautious approach can viciate justice by protecting criminals.