5 ICU patients due to Power outage at Govt Rajaji Hospital: Madras HC issues notice to state

The petitioner sought a direction to set up a team comprising bio-medical engineers, doctors from AIIMS, professors from IIT, and senior police officials to conduct an investigation into the death of five patients.

Madurai: The Madras High Court has recently issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu government on a petition seeking constitution of a team of doctors and senior police officials among others to probe the death of 5 patients at a Government Rajaji Hospital

It also directed the state government to provide fair compensation to the families of those who died at Government Rajaji Hospital Wednesday allegedly after the ventilator support system collapsed due to the power outage.

The bench also asked the government to file a report on forming a panel to upgrade infrastructure in all government hospitals across the state.

The court said both the reports should be submitted on May 29.

The petitioner sought a direction to set up a team comprising bio-medical engineers, doctors from AIIMS, professors from IIT, and senior police officials to conduct an investigation into the death of five patients.

She also demanded that a team of electrical engineers be formed to inspect all government hospitals and ensure supply of uninterrupted power to the hospitals.

She also claimed that the hospital administration had Rs 25 crore at its disposal, from the chief minister's fund for comprehensive health insurance scheme, but it had failed to utilise it towards maintenance and up-gradation of the life- saving infrastructure.

Disruption in power supply allegedly left five patients on life support dead at GRH here Wednesday.

However, hospital authorities said the patients, who were in the ICU, died of natural causes and that it was a sheer coincidence that electricity supply was disrupted at that time.

Relatives of the deceased have alleged the ventilators were not working properly.

Meanwhile, Dr GR Ravindranath, General Secretary of Doctor's Association for Social Equality, has demanded a fair inquiry into the deaths of the three patients.

Speaking to ANI on the incident at Rajaji hospital, Dr Ravindranath said: "I demand a fair inquiry into this accident. A retired judge should be appointed for the same, only then will we be able to find out the truth. Reportedly, the incident happened due to a power cut. The administration did not take any steps to restore power immediately."