Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)
Kundapur, Jun 19: Days after drawing flak for refusing to admit a woman in labour due to unavailibilty of doctors, Kundapur government hospital is in the news again, for allegedly showing negligence in the treatment of a woman, this time resulting in death.
The patient, Vishalakshi Poojary (37) died of snakebite, allegedly due to negligence of the hospital staff.
Vishalakshi, a resident of Yojana Nagar, Byndoor was cooking in her house when a poisonous snake bit her hand at around 11.30 am on Monday June 19. A cloth was tied on the wound and she was brought to Byndoor government hospital. The doctor who examined her said that the hospital did not have suitable medicine for snakebite and asked her to be taken to Kundapur government hospital. He also gave her a letter addressed to the doctor at the Kundapur hospital.
She was then brought and admitted to Kundapur government hospital. Her relatives urged the medical staff to attend to her urgently as she needed immediate treatment. The relatives allege that she died as the staff failed to treat her on time.
Allegations false: Chief medical officer
Dr Udayashanker, chief medical officer in the hospital responding to the allegation said that Vishalakshi was brought to the hospital at 1.45 pm. "The doctor on duty has examined her. The police station also has been informed about it. The doctor has also called the lab for blood test. But the relatives took away Vishalakshi saying that they were admitter her to another hospital, but they returned with her at 3.45 pm. She had died in the meantime. The hospital staff did not neglect her," he said.
The deceased woman was very poor. Her husband does centering work. They have two children.
Suspension of doctor urged
Following Vishalakshi's death, leaders of different organizations held protests in the hospital, urging for suspension of doctors and staff who are alleged to have ignored the patient. They have also brought the matter to the notice of the deputy commissioner.
Tahsildar G M Borker and special tahsildar of Byndoor Kiran Gorayya came to the hospital on the orders of the deputy commissioner and spoke to the family of the deceased woman. The CCTV camera recordings are being examined.
The body has been sent to KMC hospital for post-mortem.
The police led by Kundapur inspector Nasir Hussain requested the people who had gathered inside the hospital premises to leave. When the protestors refused to budge, the police resorted to mild lathi charge.
Labour organization leader Venkatesh Koni, district labour forum president Ravi Shetty and others were present.