Mangalore: Patient jumps to death from ICU, family blames hospital

Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)

Mangalore, Jan 29: A patient who was admitted to Yenepoya hospital, Kodialbail after a failed suicide bid allegedly jumped to his death from the fourth floor of the hospital in the wee hours of Wednesday January 29. The family members have alleged negligence on the part of the hospital and a case has also been filed.

The deceased, identified as Lathish Poojary (29), a resident of Madoor, Kotekar, reportedly consumed poison along with liquor on Monday January 27 at around 3 am while he was in a hotel. But panic struck him and he immediately called up his friend for help.

The friend then called 108 ambulance service, and Lathish was rushed to Wenlock hospital. His family was also informed. 

Speaking to daijiworld, Lathish's brother-in-law Kiran said that as the family members were not happy with the facilities and treatment provided at Wenlock, they shifted him to Yenepoya hospital two hours later.

Kiran said that Lathish responded well to the treatment at Yenepoya hospital, but on Tuesday January 28 evening, he was given a high dosage of medicine after which he seemed to lost his mental balance.

At around 9 pm, Lathish reportedly smashed the glass of the window in the ICU. As family members are not allowed inside the ICU as per hospital rules, they were not aware of the incident. The nurses and staff, however, were able to calm him down.

It is said that between 10.30 and 11 pm, Lathish tried to jump out of the ICU window, but he was stopped by the people around. His family, though was still not informed, said Kiran.

At around 12.30 am, when everyone was asleep, Lathish leaped out of the window and fell to his death. Kiran said that the family was informed of his demise at around 1.30 am.

The family members alleged that there was no security or enough staff in the ICU, and blamed the hospital authorities for the incident.

A case has been registered against the duty doctors under IPC section 306 (abetment of suicide) in Mangalore north police station.

Though daijiworld contacted the hospital, no one was available for comment.