Several patients and their families have alleged that complaints of medical negligence to the West Bengal Medical Council elicit no response or are decided without a hearing.

The newly formed West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission accepts complaints against clinical establishments, not doctors.

Abhijit Nayek, 30, had complained to the state medical council in January against a gynaecologist who he alleged did not alert the family in time that their daughter had deformed legs.

Nayek alleged that he had written a detailed complaint and also provided documents in its support but the council is yet to respond. “I submitted my complaint in January. I have also sent a couple of reminders but still did not get any call from the council,” said Nayek.

Nayek and his wife wrote to the Medical Council of India (MCI) in September. “I hope a response will come,” he said.

Several others like Nayek who had allegations of medical negligence spoke at a conference organised at Rotary Sadan by the People for Better Treatment, a platform for such people.

Kalyani Das Sarkar, 59, a doctor herself, also alleged bias and inaction by the state council.

Das Sarkar alleged she had lost her husband to doctors’ negligence. “Being a doctor myself I knew what documents to give as evidence and I can understand the parameters mentioned in the tests,” said Das Sarkar, a former student of NRS Medical College.

“I submitted my complaint with the relevant documents within a month of my husband’s death in March. There was no response for several months. I had to pursue my case,” she said. “Six months later, the council sent me a letter clearing the doctors of all charges. I was not even called for a hearing. What kind of inquiry was done without hearing me out?”

A source in the health department said complaints of medical negligence against a doctor must be directed to the West Bengal Medical Council.

“The aggrieved party can appeal to the MCI or even go to a court if they are unhappy with the inquiry of the state council,” the source added.

Trinamul leader Nirmal Maji, who is the president of West Bengal Medical Council, denied the allegations. “We try to address all complaints at the earliest. We are a responsible body,” he said.