Question : INQUIRY INTO SUDDEN DEATH OF TWO GENERALS

(a) whether the Army Headquarters has ordered a high level inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the untimely death of two serving generals at Army Hospital recently as reported in ‘The Hindustan Times’ dated July 6, 2000;

(b) if so, whether any preliminary investigations in this regard have been conducted;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether medical negligence has been found to be the main cause of deaths of the two Generals; and

(e) if so, the steps the Government propose to take to tone up the functioning of Army Hospitals?

MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI GEORGE FERNANDES)

(a) to (d): No, Sir. The two serving General Officers were correctly diagnosed, thoroughly investigated and provided the best available treatment. However, they could not be saved due to the nature of their illness, in which mortality is very high. There has been no negligence in their treatment at any stage. The management of both cases were on scientific and professional lines.

(e) Does not arise in view of the reply to parts (a) to (d) above.