Deaths at Koraput Hospital trigger probe amid negligence allegations

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday ordered an investigation into the deaths of at least five patients at the government-run Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital (SLNMCH) in Odisha's Koraput, allegedly following the administration of a ''wrong injection''.

However, an internal inquiry into the deaths of five patients found no lapses in medical or nursing care, according to Dr Sushant Kumar Sahu, Dean-cum-Superintendent of SLNMCH.

According to the news report, patients from various areas, including Koraput, Borigumma, Kalahandi, Semiliguda and Machhara, were undergoing treatment in the ICU and general surgery wards of the medical college.

The deceased have been identified as Shukra Majhi, Rukuni Penthia, Phulabati Majhi, Bhagaban Paraja, and Bati Khara.

Suddenly, after 11 p.m. on Tuesday, five of the critically ill patients died one after another.

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The aggrieved relatives of patients created a ruckus in the hospital, alleging that their patients died after being administered the wrong injections.

They claimed that the condition of their patients was good after the operation.

Panic spread among attendants, and tensions rose as family members alleged that an injection administered to the patients might have caused the deaths.

The bodies will be handed over to family members after autopsy.

"We admitted the patient on Tuesday afternoon for treatment. After the operation, the hospital authorities told us that the patient would be kept in the ICU for intensive care. Our patient, who was alive till then, died after the nurse administered a wrong injection," alleged a relative of one of the deceased patients on Wednesday, news agency IANS reported.

On the other hand, Susanta Kumar Sahu, Medical Superintendent of SLNMCH, denied the allegations of medical negligence.

Koraput District Collector Keerthi Vasan also told media persons that a high-level committee has been constituted to probe the allegations of medical negligence and find out the causes of deaths.

He also assured that the district administration would seek the assistance of the state government if needed.

To ensure a fair investigation, the Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET), Odisha, has formed two separate probe teams — one from SCB Medical College , Cuttack and another from MKCG Medical College, Berhampur — to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The collector also claimed that as the SLNMCH, Koraput is a tertiary care centre, mostly the seriously ill patients are referred to the medical college for advanced treatment.

Meanwhile, the family members of one more patient, who died on Wednesday morning, also levelled medical negligence allegations.

He said an internal probe had already been launched, and a team comprising senior professors and medical specialists reviewed the treatment procedures, reportedly finding no deficiencies in medical or nursing care.

Dr Sahu further clarified that the injection under suspicion was a life-saving drug commonly used to stabilize patients by preventing a sudden drop in blood pressure.

He added that one of the deceased patients, a cancer patient from Kalahandi, was already in a terminal stage and was scheduled for referral. The other deceased patients had sustained severe injuries in accidents or stabbing incidents, reports UNI.

Apprehending a possible law and order situation, the Koraput Town Police rushed to the hospital, seized the bodies, and sent them for post-mortem examinations as part of a formal investigation.

Sources said the two teams deputed by the DMET Director will investigate the cause of death of the five patients and submit their report to the Director on Thursday.

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