Kolkata, Mar 23 (PTI) Family members of a patient at state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital here alleged that he died on Monday due to lack of trolley as he was forced to walk despite his critical condition.
Biswajit Samanta, a resident of Nimta, was brought to the trauma care unit of the hospital in the early hours of Monday after he complained of breathing difficulties and nose bleeding, according to his family.
Relatives said doctors provided initial treatment and asked them to wait for further admission procedures. However, Samanta wanted to go to the toilet.
According to his family, they were advised to take him to a pay-and-use toilet located outside the trauma care facility.
His son alleged that despite repeated requests, no trolley or wheelchair was provided, and the patient was forced to walk despite his critical condition.
He claimed that Samanta was taken to the first floor of the pay-and-use toilet complex, and he suddenly collapsed before reaching the toilet. He was then rushed to the emergency department, where doctors declared him dead.
The family further alleged that within the trauma care facility, there were three toilets — one meant for patients and two for staff. However, the patient toilet was locked due to renovation, leaving no accessible facility for the patient at the time.
Police said an unnatural death case has been registered, and an investigation is underway.
Medical Superintendent and Vice Principal (MSVP) of the hospital, Saptarshi Chatterjee said, at present, there is only one toilet in the emergency area for patients, which is under renovation due to heavy flow of patients..
“There is no provision for bio-toilets, but we are trying to implement it to overcome the problem. We are trying to improve the arrangements for doctors, staff and patients. If possible, we will make further arrangements,” he said.
Meanwhile, Atin Ghosh, Trinamool Congress MLA and a member of the ‘Rogi Kalyan Samity’ (patient welfare committee) of the hospital, criticised what he termed a “serious lapse” in handling a critical patient.
Ghosh said a high-risk patient should not have been allowed to leave the trauma care centre to search for toilet facilities. If public toilets were unavailable due to renovation, the patient should have been allowed to use the toilets reserved for doctors and nurses, he said.
The MLA also expressed concern over administrative lapses and said he would approach the hospital principal seeking a report on the incident and steps taken to prevent such occurrences in the future.
A 40-year-old man died after being struck inside a lift at the state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital here on March 20. Five people were arrested in connection with the death of the man. PTI BSM RG
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