Death of 74-year-old woman: Chandigarh private hospital found guilty of negligence, confirms inquiry report

Chandigarh: After the death of a 74-year-old woman in April this year, a private hospital in Sector 33, Chandigarh has been found guilty of negligence in the treatment of the woman by the medical board overseeing the case. Besides, the board has also accused the hospital's doctors of failing to manage the patient's condition during a follow-up appointment.  

A five-member medical board that was constituted to investigate the case found the Landmark Hospital responsible for the death of the woman after the family member of the deceased filed a complaint to the UT adviser, administrator, health secretary, and director of health. This conclusion was reached after the board recorded statements from all involved parties in the case.

In the complaint, the family members claimed that the hospital refused to admit her and only advised her to take medicine and a return visit in three days after noting that her condition was worse, and her sodium level was critically low at 120. 

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The board has indicated that the doctors did not submit the necessary supportive documents detailing the recommendation for admitting the patient due to low sodium levels, or the refusal for admission by the patient or their attendants.

As per the HT news report, Dr AK Attri, Director Principal of GMCH-32, headed the board alongside members such as Suman Singh, Director of Health in Chandigarh, Dr Sushil Mahi, Medical Superintendent of Government multi-speciality Hospital-Sector 16, Dr Naveen Pandey, Associate Professor, and Dr Pawan Bansal, President of the Indian Medical Association Chandigarh. Experts like Sanjay D’Cruz, in charge of the medical wing of GMCH Sector 32, Prof PN Gupta, Prof Rohit Jindal, and Associate Prof Ashwini Soni were also involved. 

The incident took place on March 16 when the woman residing in Sector 63, Mohali, was taken to Landmark Hospital following a fall at her home. Initially treated by a doctor and scheduled for a follow-up on April 3, her condition deteriorated before the appointment and her sodium levels dropped dangerously low to 120. Despite the critical nature of her condition, the hospital advised medication and a return visit in three days, instead of admitting her, as stated by the family members. 

On April 4, the woman experienced seizures and was later admitted to GMCH, Sector 32 but the family claimed that the private hospital did not provide the necessary records of a femur bone implant to the government hospital which led to improper treatment.

On April 7, the family claimed that the government hospital requested an MRI but required a written letter from the private hospital confirming if the patient could safely undergo the procedure. However, the private hospital refused to provide the letter. Further, the complaint stated that the woman died 12 days later in the emergency ward of GMCH, Sector 32.

Taking note of the matter, Dr AK Attri, Director Principal of GMCH-32, concluded that the doctors at Landmark Hospital did not adequately attend to the patient's condition during the follow-up appointment and held the private hospital responsible for the negligence. 

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