Pune; India: Porsche crash case: (Alleged blood-switching) Tampering with evidence: The hospital at the core of this scandal has vowed to make major reforms with a focus on, meticulous planning, including how to document patient records, collect blood samples, and maintain detailed records in the forensic department."…e forensic department. There is also a consideration to redesign the emergency department. For this, the hospital will consult the Public Works Department. To monitor every movement in this department, the number of CCTV cameras will be increased. During the Kalyani Nagar accident, blood samples were taken in areas without cameras, highlighting the need for more robust transparency measures. Dr. Ajay Taware, forensic sciences department head, and Dr. Shrihari Halnor, casualty medical officer at Sassoon General Hospital, were apprehended by Pune Police Crime Branch for allegedly destroying evidence related to the Porsche accident."

PUBLISHER'S NOTE:Since I began  publishing this Blog there have been dozens, if not hundreds of posts involving tampering with physical evidence by individuals - and most often, by police, crime lab personnel and other public servants. So many, in fact, that I have concluded that tampering of physical evidence  occurs much more often than I imagined. So much more in fact that I have decided to pay considerably more attention to them in this Blog, as with today's post containing serious allegations of tampering made agains an ex-senior  Deputy Inspector, then commanding officer. Indeed, one of the most serious set of allegations over the years, if not the most serious I have come upon relates to disgraced  former doctor Charles Smith, the namesake of this Blog, who testified  that during an autopsy of a 2 and a half year-old baby,  he had  pocketed what appeared to be  a dark, curly  male-type pubic hair which he had found in the baby's vagina -   rather than handing it over to the police officer who was present so that it could be tested. This conduct prejudiced a police murder investigation and played a role in the wrongful conviction of the bathe baby's mother. (The Brenda Waudby case);    WIKIPEDIA ENTRY: "Tampering with evidence, or evidence tampering, is an act in which a person alters, conceals, falsifies, or destroys evidence w ith the intent to interfere with an investigation (usually) by a law-enforcement, governmental, or regulatory authority.^[1] It is a criminal offense in many jurisdictions.^[2] Tampering with evidence is closely related to the legal issue of spoliation of evidence, which is usually the civil law or due processversion of the same concept (but may itself be a crime). Tampering with evidence is also closely related to obstruction of justice and perverting the course of justice, and these two kinds of crimes are often charged together. The goal of tampering with evidence is usually to cover up a crime or with intent to injure the accused person."

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PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "There have been allegations of evidence tampering in the blood samples of the minor involved in the Kalyani Nagar accident. The Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) had established a three-member committee to investigate the alleged misconduct by the two doctors. The report emphasized the shortcomings in the emergency department, prompting Sassoon Hospital administration to take corrective measures. Dr. Taware was in communication with another suspect Ashpak Makandar, with more than 70 calls exchanged between them. Makandar played a significant role in the accident case. Investigating officers indicated that the manipulation of the blood sample occurred after discussions between Dr. Taware and Makandar. The investigation has also revealed that Agarwal contacted Ashpak and Amar to facilitate the payment to Dr. Taware."

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STORY: "Pune: Sassoon General Hospital to undertake major reforms," by Reporter Shivraj Sanaa, published by The Bridge Chronicle, on June 18, 2024.

SUB-HEADING: "Hospital will consult the Public Works Department to consider redesigning the emergency department. The number of CCTV cameras will be increased."

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GIST: "Pune: Sassoon Hospital is undertaking significant reforms to enhance its administration. The hospital is emphasizing on transparency and discipline at every level. The effectiveness of these reforms, however, will depend on their implementation.

The process for each patient undergoing forensic examination begins in the emergency department, which is now being prioritized for transparency improvements. Changes are being coordinated with senior professors at the hospital, and an independent report will be prepared, followed by staff training. The focus is on meticulous planning, including how to document patient records, collect blood samples, and maintain detailed records in the forensic department.

There is also a consideration to redesign the emergency department. For this, the hospital will consult the Public Works Department. To monitor every movement in this department, the number of CCTV cameras will be increased. During the Kalyani Nagar accident, blood samples were taken in areas without cameras, highlighting the need for more robust transparency measures.

Dr. Ajay Taware, forensic sciences department head, and Dr. Shrihari Halnor, casualty medical officer at Sassoon General Hospital, were apprehended by Pune Police Crime Branch for allegedly destroying evidence related to the Porsche accident.

There have been allegations of evidence tampering in the blood samples of the minor involved in the Kalyani Nagar accident. The Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) had established a three-member committee to investigate the alleged misconduct by the two doctors. The report emphasized the shortcomings in the emergency department, prompting Sassoon Hospital administration to take corrective measures.

Dr. Taware was in communication with another suspect Ashpak Makandar, with more than 70 calls exchanged between them. Makandar played a significant role in the accident case. Investigating officers indicated that the manipulation of the blood sample occurred after discussions between Dr. Taware and Makandar. The investigation has also revealed that Agarwal contacted Ashpak and Amar to facilitate the payment to Dr. Taware.

Key Areas for Improvement

• Proper documentation of patient records
• Emphasizing the importance of accurate record-keeping in forensic cases
• Training doctors and staff in the emergency department
• Providing information on collecting various samples in forensic cases
• Ensuring staff focus on transparent operations;

The entire story can be read at:

https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/news/pune-sassoon-general-hospital-to-undertake-major-reforms

PUBLISHER'S NOTE:  I am monitoring this case/issue/resource. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic"  section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com.  Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog.

SEE BREAKDOWN OF  SOME OF THE ON-GOING INTERNATIONAL CASES (OUTSIDE OF THE CONTINENTAL USA) THAT I AM FOLLOWING ON THIS BLOG,  AT THE LINK BELOW:  HL:

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/120008354894645705/4704913685758792985

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FINAL WORD:  (Applicable to all of our wrongful conviction cases):  "Whenever there is a wrongful conviction, it exposes errors in our criminal legal system, and we hope that this case — and lessons from it — can prevent future injustices."

Lawyer Radha Natarajan:

Executive Director: New England Innocence Project;

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FINAL, FINAL WORD: "Since its inception, the Innocence Project has pushed the criminal legal system to confront and correct the laws and policies that cause and contribute to wrongful convictions.   They never shied away from the hard cases — the ones involving eyewitness identifications, confessions, and bite marks. Instead, in the course of presenting scientific evidence of innocence, they've exposed the unreliability of evidence that was, for centuries, deemed untouchable." So true!

Christina Swarns: Executive Director: The Innocence Project;

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