A violent clash erupted at Vidyasagar State General Hospital in Behala, Kolkata, after the death of a 32-year-old patient, Seikh Mehmood Alam, who suffered a double heart attack. The patient's family alleged negligence on the part of the hospital and demanded an explanation and documents, including medical records, which the hospital refused to provide without a court order.
The situation quickly escalated into violence, with a mob of around 100 people in the hospital, comprising family members and neighbors of the deceased, smashing chairs and tables, ransacking rooms, shattering glass panes, and flinging medicines and injections from shelves. Three nurses were injured in the attack, with one requiring hospitalization.
Such acts of brutality create a fearful atmosphere in a hospital, we urge you to take immediate and stringent action to stop such acts of vandalism and violence. We also request the prompt arrest and exemplary punishment of the perpetrators involved to ensure justice and restore confidence among healthcare providersSajal Biswas, General Secretary of Service Doctors' Forum
The police arrived at the scene and took almost an hour to control the mob. Nine people have been arrested in connection with the case, and 13 others have been questioned. According to this investigation, concerns about the lack of security at hospitals, with nurses and doctors questioning official claims of 90% progress in ensuring safety at hospitals.
At this point the patient's relatives accused the hospital of negligence and demanded all medical documents. The officials said govt hospitals could not hand over such documents without a court orderPolice Officer said
The patient, Seikh Mehmood Alam, was admitted to the hospital with chest pain around 8:30 pm on Friday. Despite receiving immediate medical attention, including CPR, Alam suffered another heart attack and died a little before 9 pm. The hospital authorities offered to conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death, but the family declined and asked for the death certificate instead.
(Input From Various Sources)
(Rehash/Neha Kamble/MSM)