Andhra: 2 Govt doctors suspended for alleged laxity in treating COVID nodal officer

Written by Sanchari Chattopadhyay Published On 2021-05-17T10:30:00+05:30 | Updated On 17 May 2021 10:30 AM IST

Andhra: 2 Govt doctors suspended for alleged laxity in treating COVID nodal officer

Anantapur: Taking note of alleged lapses and negligence in treating a COVID nodal officer who later died, two doctors attached to Government Super Specialty Hospital have been suspended by the District Collector, Gandham Chandrudu on Sunday for failing to act on time to provide treatment to the patient.

The deceased has been identified as the Director of Andhra Pradesh Micro Irrigation Project (APMIP) while the doctors included a resident medical officer and a help desk medical officer. Other than the medical officers, the superintendent of the facility and two head nurses were also found negligent in duty and were served show-cause notices.

The 58-year-old patient was monitoring flying squads at private hospitals in the district. The APMIP director suddenly fell ill and was admitted to a private hospital in Anantapur. He later tested positive for Covid-19. As his condition deteriorated, doctors suggested he be moved to a super-speciality hospital on Saturday night. But he passed away on the way.

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As per the recent media report by Deccan Chronicle, Chandrudu received a report that the APMIP project director was in a critical condition when he was rushed to the super speciality hospital. The hospital staff allegedly did not arrange any stretcher to carry the doctor to the second floor of the hospital. The officer's son-in-law and son alleged that they had to carry the patient themselves to the second floor because the reception staff was complacent and did not provide them with any other means to carry the patient. The official finally passed away in the ICU of the facility.

Pointing out serious lapses on part of the hospital staff, the collector on Sunday suspended the resident medical officer and the medical officer of the help desk. The officers were earlier informed about the serious condition of the director and were also instructed to make necessary arrangements accordingly.

According to the daily, the collector expressed his utter disappointment over the fact that the hospital authority was not even cautious enough to provide oxygen to the director when he reached the facility. It has been reported that , "It took more than 25 minutes to rush the patient to the ICU ward from the ambulance and the staff ignored to arrange oxygen flow metres for APMIP project director."

As oxygen flow metres were not arranged within the stipulated time, the collector has issued show-cause notices to Superintendent and two head nurses and instructed them to submit their response within 24 hours explaining the delay in fixing the oxygen metres in the hospital.

The hospital authorities were earlier informed about the critical health condition of the patient and they were asked to make necessary arrangements so that emergency medical care can be given to the patient. However, though the nodal officer arranged an ICU bed on the second floor, the staff was not quick enough to act and even failed to arrange a stretcher which amounted to negligence and eventually delayed the treatment of an important APMIP official, reports the daily.

Government Super Specialty Hospitaldoctors suspendedresident medical officerhead nursenegligenceAndhra Pradesh

Source : with inputs

Sanchari Chattopadhyay

Sanchari Chattopadhyay has pursued her M.A in English and Culture Studies from the University of Burdwan, West Bengal. She likes observing cultural specificities and exploring new places.