Kolkata: A hospital in the city witnessed chaos after nearly 100-odd family members and neighbours of a patient who died after a double heart attack. The crowd went on a rampage late Friday and alleged negligence on the part of the Vidyasagar State General Hospital in Behala. In the attack, three nurses suffered injuries and one was hospitalised.
The angry mob sought an explanation for the death of a 32-year-old patient and even smashed chairs, tables, broke glass panes of doors, threw medicines, injections and ransacked rooms leaving staff injured and shocked, reported PTI.
A police team reached the site and it took them four hours to control the mob and by then, everyone at the hospital was anxious and scared, the TOI report added. It stated that nurses and doctors questioned administration over the lack of security. They asked the administration about the promise of security for healthcare workers after the RG Kar horror.
They pointed out that despite 90% progress in ensuring safety at hospitals, no security personnel was present during the violence.
The cops from the Parnasree police station have arrested nine people and questioned 13 in connection with the case.
"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 providers," Sajal Biswas, the General Secretary of Service Doctors' Forum, wrote to the director of health services, the TOI report mentioned.
What Exactly Happened
Additional CP said that the trouble began at around 11 pm after a man, Seikh Mehmood Alam (32), died. A resident of Baidyapara in Barisha, the patient was admitted to the Behala hospital with chest pain around 8.30 pm on Friday. He fell ill while returning from Digha and suffered a heart attack.
As per the report, a hospital official said that several tests were carried out and a blood test revealed heart problems. He said that the patient was administered CPR immediately but suffered another attack around 8.40 pm and died a little before 9 pm. However, he said, the patient's family alleged Alam died during an ECG.
As the news spread, the police said, his relatives and neighbours started gathering to the tune of almost 100 in over an hour. The hospital authorities reportedly told the family everything and offered to conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death as well.
But the family declined all requests and asked for Alam's death certificate promptly. The same was given to them by 10:30 pm and the body was released and put in an ambulance. At this juncture, the report added, the family alleged negligence.
"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 order," a police officer said, quoted TOI.
This was followed by argument which turned into violence after which people ransacked the hospital rooms. A nurse said she had to lock herself inside a restroom. Witnesses said security guards were not enough to tackle the mob and the matter was reported to police.
Further probe is underway.