University of Hyderabad files medical negligence complaint against hospital following dengue death of PhD Scholar

Hyderabad:  A local hospital has found itself surrounded with controversy, following the death of a dengue patient as the University of Hyderabad (UoH) and members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) have gone ahead with a police complaint alleging that hospital’s medical negligence resulted in the death of varsity scholar, Rashmi Ranjan Suna.

Two separate complaints have been filed against the hospital in the Gachibowli police station.

The case concerns a 26 years old dalit PhD student, Rashmi Ranjan Suna hailing from Western Odisha’s Kalahandi district. He joined the University of Hyderabad in the year 2013. He commenced his PhD in the year 2015 and was in the fourth year of his programme. His education was being funded by Rajiv Gandhi National fellowship.

On November 19 at around 1:00 am Rashmi’s friends informed the university health care centre about him being down with fever. The doctor on duty reported it as a case of viral fever and asked him to take rest.

However, he was referred to Himagiri Hospital, a hospital in University’s referral list after he complained of acute body pain around 4 an in the morning. At the hospital, he was admitted to the general ward and soon shifted to ICU after his health worsened.

Students allege that the administration was unsuccessful in diagnosing him. His condition kept on deteriorating within a couple of days. He got his blood test done with a cooperate hospital which reported negative for Dengue fever.

No improvement was seen in his health after spending a couple of days at the hospital. Eventually, Rashmi was admitted to the City Speciality Hospital where he was diagnosed with Dengue fever after a blood test was done in the latter hospital.

According to Rashmi’s friend, for further treatment, the doctors closely examined the earlier blood report from Himagiri Hospital. Shockingly they found discrepancies in the test reports done by Himagiri hospital.

After being under 48 hours of observation the doctors informed Rashmi’s friends that there were multiple-organ damage and signs of internal bleeding too.

The patient was soon put on an external life support but he soon succumbed to the disease.

With the death of the scholar, angry students from the university were seen gathering accusing the hospital of medical negligence as well as overcharging

The matter soon brought various student organizations including ABVP together who continues to protest against the administration and spills out anger through slogans such as “huari maange puri karo” and “blame game nahi sahenge”.

A compensation amount of Rs 25 lakh has been demanded along with strict legal action against the hospital. The angry students did not leave the university outside the foray, alleging a nexus between the university officials as well as the hospital of admitting university patients and then preparing exorbitant bills

“From top to bottom, everyone is involved, including the Vice-Chancellor. The health business is inducted into the University system. Until they approve insurance claims, nothing moves. There is a very clear-cut nexus between the university administration and Himagiri Hospital, which has ultimately led to the tragic death of Rashmi,” Dontha Prashanth, a student leader alleged while speaking to TNM

Following pressure from the students, two separate complaints have now been filed with the police.

“We have received two separate complaints — one from the university and the other from the students — on the same incident. In cases alleging medical negligence, a preliminary investigation has to be conducted by a medical team following which the FIR will be filed,” R Srinivas, Gachibowli inspector told TOI.