Death of a Poor Breadwinner, Negligence or Fate?
Late last month residents neighbouring Aggarwal Medical Center in E-Block rushed out of their homes to see where the loud wails and angry screaming was coming from. Soon a crowd of over 75 poured in and a posse of Police including SHO GK-I came to keep the crowd in check. I got a frantic call from a neighbour who said come quickly, as something terrible has happened in Aggarwal Medical Center. Rushing out I saw wailing women being escorted towards a car, men screaming, there was total chaos.
On inquiring, was informed that a 44-year-old man had been operated for Gall Bladder Stones and had died on the operation table. Family and friends were accusing the Doctor of negligence, the crowd were friends and neighbours of the deceased living in Garhi Village, demanded immediate arrest and sealing of the Nursing Home.
Luckily no untoward incident happened as the irate crowd was willing to listen to the SHO Ajit Kumar Upadhayay who handled the situation deftly. This is not the first such incident, as per News Report there are eight cases registered against the hospital. RWS of E-Block has made several complaints for the Nuisance caused by this Hospital in a residential area. Entire clientele of the Hospital is brought in from poor slums or government hospitals by Touts, mostly Auto Drivers.
But such is the clout of the Doctor that all complaints by RWA have shown zero results. An earlier case of death due to negligence seven months ago, is still under investigation. Samvada had reported the tragic death of a Former GKRA President Late Mr. Anil Kapur who had walked in for a routine BP Check but 15 minutes later was lifeless at this Hospital. This time round the deceased is a close relative of a Municipal Councillor, who is following up on proceedings and managed to get the OT Sealed and relevant documents seized. The body was sent for Postmortem and prima facie, the cause of death is allegedly Excessive Bleeding, but not confirmed by any official.
The status of the Hospital is shrouded in Mystery, outside a Large Board proclaims ‘Multi-Specialty Hospital’ and another one on top states ‘Residence cum Clinic’. I was requested by SHO to bear witness for Sealing of OT. When a Team from AIIMS came for inspection and the seal opened in front of me, I overheard a doctor proclaim “wonder how people agree to get operated in this unhygienic Butcher Khaana, our Mortuary is more sterile and cleaner”. OT had no ventilator or proper ventilation.
A precious life has been lost of a Breadwinner of a poor family, Authorities must have stricter Licensing system so that such establishments do not operate putting unsuspecting lives at risk, brought in on the promise of Top-Class Treatment at a Posh GK-I Address.
