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An Ahmedabad-based cardiologist, Dr. Prashant Vazirani, who was previously jailed and suspended for allegedly performing unnecessary angioplasty procedures that resulted in the deaths of two patients, has received a reprieve from the National Medical Commission (NMC). The NMC has stayed the Gujarat Medical Council’s (GMC) order that had debarred his medical registration, providing temporary relief to the doctor as investigations continue.
Background of the Case
The controversy centers around incidents at Khyati Multispeciality Hospital in Ahmedabad, where Dr. Vazirani is accused of conducting angioplasty and stent placements on patients who, according to official probes, did not medically require these interventions. The procedures were performed on beneficiaries of the government’s Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) scheme, with two patients—Mahesh Girdhar Barot (52) and Nagar Moti Senma (75)—dying shortly after the interventions.
Investigations revealed that the hospital had organized medical camps in rural villages, where healthy individuals were allegedly misled about their cardiac health and persuaded to undergo unnecessary procedures. The probe committee found that neither patient consent nor proper medical indication was present for the angioplasties performed. Furthermore, there was no cardiologist present at the time of the patients’ deaths, and the hospital was accused of falsifying documentation to claim government insurance benefits.
Legal and Regulatory Actions
Following the deaths, Dr. Vazirani was arrested and remanded to police custody, while three FIRs were filed—two by the families of the deceased and one by the state government. The charges include culpable homicide not amounting to murder, attempted culpable homicide, forgery, use of forged documents, fraud, and criminal conspiracy. The Gujarat Medical Council subsequently suspended Dr. Vazirani’s medical registration for three years, revoking his right to practice medicine in the state.
Other officials and directors of Khyati Multispeciality Hospital were also named in the FIRs and are under investigation, with some reportedly evading arrest.
Recent Developments
On April 23, 2025, the NMC issued a stay on the GMC’s suspension order, temporarily allowing Dr. Vazirani to retain his medical registration while the matter is under further review. This decision does not exonerate the doctor but provides interim relief pending the outcome of ongoing legal and regulatory proceedings.
Disclaimer
This article is based on information available from public news sources and regulatory updates as of April 24, 2025. The case is subject to ongoing investigation and legal proceedings, and all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Readers are advised to consult official sources for the most current developments.
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