Rabale MIDC police have booked a homeopathy doctor from Digha for culpable homicide not amounting to murder after a report by the medical board confirmed his negligence in the death of a 13-year-old girl. The girl, Prerna Umesh Sonawane, passed away in September 2023 after the doctor allegedly prescribed allopathic medicines despite not being authorized to do so.
According to the police, the incident took place at Sai Sanjivani Clinic in Digha, where Prerna was taken for treatment on September 16, 2023. The teenager, a resident of Pandhari Nagar, had been suffering from fever, vomiting, and dizziness. Her family took her to the clinic of Dr. Himat Alchouni, a BHMS-qualified homeopathy doctor practicing in Vishnu Nagar, Digha. Despite lacking authorization to prescribe allopathic medicines, Dr. Alchouni allegedly administered injections and tablets to the girl before sending her home.
“However, shortly after taking the medication, the family alleged that the girl developed seizures and began foaming at the mouth. Alarmed by her worsening condition, her family rushed her back to the same clinic at around 10:45 PM. The doctor then advised them to take her to a bigger hospital, but before they could do so, the girl died,” a police officer from Rabale MIDC police station said.
Following her death, the Rabale MIDC police initially registered an accidental death report and referred the case further to the medical board. “As per the protocol, when the family alleges negligence, we refer the case to medical board for expert advice. The board after their investigation concluded negligence on the part of Dr. Alchouni and accordingly we registered the case and the further investigations are on,” senior police inspector Sunil Waghmare from Rabale MIDC police station said. Based on the findings, the police registered a case under section 304 (2) of the IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) against the doctor and have initiated further legal proceedings.
When contacted Dr Alchouni for his statement, he refused to comment anything about the same.
