60 year old patient dies at Cuttack hospital, family protests alleging negligence

Cuttack: A 60-year-old patient died at Satyam Hospital in Jagatpur on Monday night, following which his family members staged a dharna on the hospital premises on Tuesday, alleging medical negligence. 

The deceased, a resident of Bhubanpur in Jagatpur, was rushed to the hospital at around 9 pm on Monday after reportedly complaining of severe abdominal pain. His condition subsequently deteriorated, following which he was shifted to the ICU, where he died later that night. 

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Following his death, the patient’s family members staged a dharna on the hospital premises, alleging that no doctor was available to treat him and he was attended to by the other medical staff. They also raised questions over the treatment provided to the patient.   

The deceased’s niece alleged that hospital staff initially told the family that he had developed severe acidity and was therefore being kept in the ICU. She claimed that he was later placed on ventilator support.   

According to her, when the family arranged an ambulance to shift him to another hospital, hospital staff informed them that he had suffered cardiac arrest and was being administered CPR. The family was allegedly warned that shifting him in that condition could be risky.

She further alleged that when the family members entered the ICU, they were told that the patient could die at any moment.

The hospital owner refuted the claims of medical negligence. “When the patient arrived, his oxygen level had dropped significantly. So, without waiting for other procedures, including formal consent, he was shifted to the ICU so that his life could be saved. After two hours, the patient passed away,” he alleged, reports TNIE.

Meanwhile, Jagatpur IIC Prasant Kumar Sasmal said police personnel were deployed at the hospital after the family staged the dharna to prevent any law and order situation.

Speaking to Odisha TV, Cuttack Zone-I SP Arun Kumar Swain said, "Yesterday, around 9:00 PM, a person suffered severe stomach pain. Following that, his family members brought him to the hospital, as it was nearby. Later, around midnight, he was declared dead. The family members are protesting, alleging medical negligence by the doctors. Therefore, police forces have been deployed here."

Police later registered a case based on an FIR lodged by his son. Further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the patient’s death is underway.

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