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55-yr-old dies, kin alleges negligence
A day after a 55-year-old heart patient died at a private hospital in west Delhi, his family has alleged medical negligence, including unnecessary amputation of a limb. The hospital has, however, refuted the claim.
A day after a 55-year-old heart patient died at a private hospital in west Delhi, his family has alleged medical negligence, including unnecessary amputation of a limb. The hospital has, however, refuted the claim.
Sher Chand, a tent house worker from Karnal (Haryana), was brought to Max Hospital, Shalimar Bagh on May 11 with a heart ailment. He underwent two consecutive heart surgeries, after which it was found that his left lower limb was cold with low pulse as arteries supplying blood had developed clots. The hospital said his leg was amputed as a "life-saving measure".
On Tuesday, he died of a heart attack. But his sons Parveen Kumar and Naveen Kumar claimed otherwise: "Before the surgery, the doctors had told us it involved just 1% risk. But their report mentions 70% risk."
The family, who belongs to the below poverty line category, claimed to have borrowed money and sold gold ornaments to raise approximately R1.5 lakh for medical expenses.
"This is a clear case of negligence by the hospital. How can they cut off a leg of a person, who has come for a heart problem," fumed Parveen. Chand's body was taken for post-mortem but not returned to the family till late on Wednesday evening.
An official statement from the hospital said: "The patient had undergone a coronary angiography suggestive of coronary artery disease and triple vessel disease. A bypass was performed after due explanation of the risk of surgery."
The claimed to have resorted to "amputation as a critical life-saving measure" two days later, after finding out that blood did not reach his left leg, it said.
Explaining the reason for his death, the hospital said: "The patient had cardio pulmonary arrest. Despite CPR, immediate supportive medication and resuscitative measures, he was declared dead at 11.32 am."
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had been helping the family since it landed in Delhi, staged a protest on Wednesday. "The hospital should at least return the huge expenditure incurred by this poor family," said Bandana Kumari, AAP volunteer.
