Patient deaths in VIMS: Doctors afraid of inquiry, public outrage, plan to take leave

Ballari: Afraid of facing the inquiry following the death of patients due to lack of oxygen after a power outage at Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Science (VIMS), doctors have requested leave over the past two days. However, they are reluctant to attend VIMS despite the authorities' urge.

Due to the controversial death of the two patients, reporters have started to dig into the past sudden deaths caused due to other factors at VIMS and investigate whether the deaths were connected.

The government formed the five-member committee after discussing the matter in the assembly. The committee held a meeting on Friday with the deceased family members and the officials and is expected to submit the report within a few days.

Also read- Karnataka: 3 ICU Patients Die Due To Power Outage At VIMS, Govt Orders Probe

After the meeting, doctors are getting fearful of the inquiry and have started to take leave for a few days from work to avoid the current situation. They are under stress, and authorities are trying to motivate them.

Health Minister Dr. K Sudhakar on Sunday said that the death of the two patients was caused due to their health issues and not by the power outage at the hospital. "The probe committee members visited the hospital and collected the details. We will have a dedicated office to look after the power supply at the hospital," he added.

While speaking with TNIE, the Director of VIMS Gangadhar Gowda said, "So far, two patients have died due to power cut, which has been explained to the government panel. If there are any lapses, action will be taken. The district administration has assured that the power supply issue will be addressed."

Dr. Sudhakar said that it is improper to react while an investigation is ongoing, whereas Gowda suggested that miscreants may have been responsible for the power outage. A police report should be made by the VIMS director if it appears that someone has attempted to disrupt the hospital's functioning, according to district in-charge minister B Sriramulu. JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy asserted at Kolar that the deaths of two patients at VIMS were entirely the government's fault.

However, on Sunday, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai junked the Opposition's demand that State Health Minister Dr. K Sudhakar resign and held him responsible for the deaths in the Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS).

Bommai said it is the job of the opposition to seek Sudhakar's resignation, and added that the Congress has developed a tendency to politicise every issue.

"In the past, when the Congress government tabled the Karnataka Private Hospitals Bill, the doctors went on a 5-day strike resulting in the death of 80 people. Did the Congress government take moral responsibility? Did anyone resign at that time? Did the then Health Minister resign? The Congress tends to politicise every issue," the Chief Minister charged, PTI reports.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported the issue that three patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) allegedly died out of which two died due to lack of oxygen supply after the power outage. Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) authorities denied the allegation.

The patients have been identified as 45-years-old Maula Hussain, 38-year-old Chittemma, and Manoj. The hospital had no electricity between 6 a.m to 10 a.m on September 14.

Maula Hussein was admitted to the hospital because he suffered from kidney issues, whereas Chettemma was a snake-bite victim. Manoj was hospitalized on September 6, and he was shifted to the ICU on September 13 after his health started to improve. On September 13 at night, there was a power cut following the next day that the electricity was gone again.

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