Monday, July 11 2005 17:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Raking up a controversy, LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) MP and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan's brother Ramchandra Paswan today (July 11, 2005) demanded a CBI probe into medical advice given by Escorts, city's leading heart care hospital, for by-pass surgeries which could have been avoided.

"CDs of angiography conducted by Escorts during the last six months to one year should be examined by Government agencies including CBI to find out whether by-pass surgeries could have been avoided and angioplasty would have sufficed," he told reporters complaining about his brother's treatment in Escorts about nine days ago.

Escorts Hospital Chief Naresh Trehan when contacted, welcomed the demand saying, "We have no problem with CBI inquiry."

Ramchandra Paswan said in a statement circulated at a press conference that, "The entire family remained under mental agony because when doctors of Escorts were adamant on by-pass surgery only, the other doctors were of the opinion that it was not required and the blocked artery could be well cleared, within half-an-hour, by angioplasty."

He said for two days (July 3 and 4), the Minister was not provided any serious treatment. "The doctors said that angiography would be conducted on July 6 and only after our insistence, the test was carried out on July 5," he said.

Ramchandra Paswan said that when the Escorts Hospital provided the CD of the angiography and advised that by-pass surgery was the only remedy, which had to be done within thirty minutes as anything could happen anytime, "We panicked and consulted other doctors for second opinion".

Noted cardiologist Ashok Seth of Max Devki Devi Heart and Vascular Institute advised angioplasty on Paswan, who was subsequently shifted from Escorts on July 5 evening, "against the wishes of Escorts."

Asked why the Minister was not admitted to AIIMS, Paswan said, "Since we took air ambulance service of Escorts, we admitted him there."

He said his brother was recovering fast at Max and was likely to be discharged in a day or two. He was disposing of important files of his Ministries even during convalescence.

In his reaction, Trehan said, "It is so sickening anybody can say anything. It is vicious. What can be done if this party wants to make an issue out of lies. Records are there to tell..."

Trehan said that he still stood by the advice given to Paswan on his treatment at his hospital and "only time will tell..."

"We considered surgery was a safer option. If he decides to take risk, it is up to him. We had explained him both the options. I don't know what they understood...," he said. Angioplasty (which is done using a stent) has 10-15 per cent risk of blockage coming back in six months to one year. Besides, there also two-four per cent chances of sudden closure of stent which can cause problem to the patient, he said.

He said Paswan arrived on July 2. His condition and treatment processes were explained to the family, he said.

Last Monday, he developed lung congestion and signs of heart failure, Trehan said adding he was advised to undergo an angiography soon.

"Angiography was done on last Tuesday and the patient was told he had a blockage in left anterior descending artery. The treatment options were also explained to the people concerned," he said.