E-Paper
Hospitals refuse instant relief, burn victim dies
THE DEATH of Rinki, a 14-year-old burn victim, on Wednesday evening once again exposed the callous attitude of senior consultants and PMS doctors towards serious patients.
THE DEATH of Rinki, a 14-year-old burn victim, on Wednesday evening once again exposed the callous attitude of senior consultants and PMS doctors towards serious patients.
With 85 per cent burns, Rinki was denied admission at the SRN Hospital despite the fact that an emergency medical officer, who is also a burn specialist, was reportedly present at the EMO room at that time.
What's more, during the last 15 days of junior doctors' agitation, as many as 10 patients died in surgical emergency ward in the absence of proper care and treatment.
A student of class IX and a resident of Dwari village in Phaphamau, Rinki sustained serious burn injuries while cooking food on Wednesday morning. Her father Karunashankar rushed her to the Beli Hospital in a private vehicle but after waiting for hours the EMO reportedly refused to admit her. She was later taken to the SRN and Colvin hospitals but both the hospitals reportedly refused to admit her.
Surprisingly, the girl was denied admission despite the fact that six beds have been earmarked for burn patients at the Colvin Hospital and a burn specialist emergency medical officer was on duty at the SRN Hospital.
However, later in the evening she was admitted to the SRNH after some persons exerted pressure on the hospital staff. But, it was too late by then and the girl died within half an hour.
Superintendent-in-charge of the SRN Hospital Dr NBL Srivastava claimed that during the junior doctors' strike the emergency medical officers remained present round-the-clock to treat serious patients. "On Wednesday, Dr Vikram Anand and Dr Siddiqui (burn specialist) were on duty. But I still don't know why Rinki was denied admission at the emergency ward. I'm finding out at what time she was brought to the hospital," he added.
Chief medical superintendent of the Colvin Hospital Dr SJ Singh said it was a very unfortunate incident. Emergency medical officer Dr Om Srivastava was present at the duty when Rinki was brought to the hospital. But Dr Srivastava has claimed that no such patient had come to him.
"However, we are not going to spare the guilty. The parents of Rinki have been called to the hospital to identify the staff, who refused to hospitalise the girl. Strict action would be taken against that staff," said Dr Singh.
Meanwhile, as many as 10 patients in the surgical emergency ward at SRN Hospital reportedly succumbed during the past 15 days of junior doctors' anti-quota agitation. "Most of these patients were admitted before the agitation started and had a proper treatment been given to them, they could have survived. Some of them include Mohd Anis, Santosh Singh, Savitri Devi, Moti Lal, Shanti, Malti Devi, Chandrabali, Sunita and Deep Chandra," said a junior doctor, who wished anonymity. "Five deaths were alone reported on Friday when junior doctors observed a total strike," he further claimed.
