Prof Dr Mamun Al Mahtab Shwapnil, chairman of hepatology department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU); Prof Dr Abdul Wahab Khan, consultant laparoscopic surgeon of Islami Bank Central Hospital in Kakrail; and Prof Dr Mohammad Ali, hepatobiliary surgeon of BRB Hospital in Kalabagan, have been sued for the death of Dr Mohammad Towfiq Enam.

Senior physiotherapist Akteruzzaman Mia, father of the victim, filed the case with the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury today (June 20, 2021), court sources said.

The magistrate took the case into cognisance and recorded the complainant's statement.

The court also directed Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the case with an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) ranked official and submit a probe report before it by July 19.

In the complaint, Akteruzzaman said that the three doctors are responsible for the death of his son Towfiq Enam.

According to the case documents, on May 4 this year, Towfiq was taken to Dr Wahab at Islami Bank Central Hospital after he became ill. The following day, Dr Wahab operated on Towfiq and discharged him on May 6.

On May 9, Towfiq became seriously ill and went to Dr Wahab for treatment. After running some tests, Dr Wahab referred Towfiq to Dr Shwapnil at Labaid hospital for further treatment.

Dr Shwapnil ran some "unnecessary tests" when Towfiq was taken to Labaid hospital, say the case documents. Towfiq's health deteriorated after "ERCP with Stenting" was done on May 11 by Dr Shwapnil.

Later, Towfiq was taken to Dr Mohammad Ali at BRB Hospital as per suggestions of Dr Shwapnil. Dr Ali said that Dr Shwapnil and Dr Wahab provided "wrong treatment" to the patient. Towfiq's duct was damaged during the "ERCP with Stenting" procedure; so, the patient needed an emergency operation, said the case statements.

On May 30, Towfiq died while undergoing treatment at BRB Hospital due to the negligence of the concerned doctor, the case statement said.

The complainant on June 15 went to Kalabagan Police Station to file a case, but police suggested to file a case with the court, the statement added.

"To avoid the surgery cost as well as the risk to liver, Dr Towfiq requested me to do the ERCP. Getting Towfiq's written permission, I did the ERCP," Dr Shwapnil told The Daily Star.

"Towfiq's wife, who is a doctor, was also present while doing the ERCP. I explained to her why it was not possible to place a stent in the stricture," he said.

"I suggested further surgery for Towfiq. But Towfiq went to BRB Hospital as per his family decision," Dr Shwapnil claimed.