Poorly preserved platelets row: Owner of Prayagraj hospital arrested over death of dengue patient

Prayagraj: The owner of the private hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, which allegedly transfused poorly preserved blood platelets to a dengue patient last month, leading to his death, has been arrested, police said.

The owner, identified as Pappu Lal Sahu, a sand contractor, was arrested near Global Hospital after it was found that Pappu and his son Satish Sahu were responsible for supplying the family of the patient with the platelets. 

Also Read:'Poorly Preserved Platelets, Not sweet lime Juice' transfused to dengue patient says panel; Prayagraj hospital to be demolished

The family members of the deceased had initially alleged that the man was given sweet lime juice instead of blood platelets, following which the hospital was sealed, and a probe was ordered, revealing that it was poorly preserved blood platelets and not sweet lime juice which was given to the patient.

"Pappu Lal Sahu, the owner of Global Hospital, was arrested after a dengue patient admitted to the hospital died after he has allegedly transfused fruit juice instead of blood platelets last month," the police said on Friday. SSP-Prayagraj Shailesh Kumar Pandey further stated, "Efforts are also underway to nab his son and others wanted in connection with the same case." 

The police said, "It was found that Sahu and his son were both involved in the supply of the platelets which caused the death of the patient. His son is absconding and we have formed teams to arrest him." 

The FIR lodged in the case names these two along with all other hospital workers involved in the case. The FIR was filed under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 419 (cheating by personation), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged), 274 (adulteration of drugs) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy), reports the Indian Express. 

Sahu was arrested based on the information received from informers, said the police, adding that he had been sent to judicial custody after his arrest on Friday.

Earlier on October 29, the registration of Global Hospital and Trauma Center was cancelled on the basis of the recommendation given by the inquiry committee after physical verification of the hospital, Prayagraj's Chief Medical Officer had informed. The committee arrived at a decision after going through the inspection/examination of the records received from the hospital administration, added the Chief Medical Officer.

The CMO order, as reported in the Hindustan Times, read, "On getting a complaint against the Global Hospital, an inquiry committee was constituted. After finding the hospital prima facie guilty of medical negligence, the registration of the hospital was suspended and it was sealed. Now after getting the recommendations of the inquiry committee, the registration of the hospital has been cancelled." 

On October 21, the private hospital in Prayagraj was sealed over the complaint by the patient's kin that he was transfused with fruit juice instead of blood platelets, who later died after which the CMO had ordered a probe. The probe had revealed that it was poorly preserved blood platelets and not sweet lime juice which was given to the patient, which was reported by the Medical Dialogues team earlier as well.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak had assured strict action against the hospital if they are found guilty. He said that the platelets packet has been sent for testing. 

Prayagraj Development Authority had issued a notice to the Global Hospital to vacate the building by October 28 so that the authorities could go ahead with the demolition work. The civic authority had termed the building as "illegally constructed".

Meanwhile, a case related to the incident is also ongoing at the Allahabad High Court which has been reported by the Medical Dialogues team where in its order dated 28th October 2022, the court directed the authorities to stay the demolition of the hospital for six weeks. The court passed the judgement after Malati Devi, the owner of the hospital, filed a writ petition in the court seeking to quash the October 19 notice with a request to not seal her property. 

Also Read:Dengue Patient's Death: Allahabad HC stays demolition of Prayagraj hospital