Policeman Accuses Hospital Of Medical Negligence After Wife Dies Gasping
A police officer who lost his wife to Covid-19 has accused the hospital management of medical negligence.
Sub-Inspector Bhik Chand, posted at the Muzaffarnagar police station in Meerut, India, accused the government hospital of showing apathy towards his dying wife.
Chand’s wife, Roopmati, was admitted to the government hospital on April 20, after she reportedly became breathless. She died at the hospital two days later.
The policeman narrated his ordeal to the local media after the woman’s death. He alleged that the hospital staff did not provide medicines to his dying wife.
"She was not even given water and eventually died," the police officer told local media.
The policeman said that he approached the medical superintendent at least 50 times but to no help came, The Times of India reported.
"My wife was killed by the hospital. They did not administer any treatment to my wife. I had complained to the SP (city) who then sent an inspector but we did not get any assistance from the hospital. I will get an FIR registered and take this case to its logical conclusion," Chand said.
The hospital responded to the issue and released a statement denying medical negligence.
"The woman had severe infection in both lungs, type diabetes, and hypertension. The woman died after her condition deteriorated," Principal of the Muzaffarnagar Medical College, Dr. Brigadier GS Manchanda said.
"There was no negligence in her treatment," he claimed.
Dozens have died in the country over the past few weeks due to the lack of medical oxygen and beds at hospitals and other medical facilities.
In a similar incident, an infant died gasping for air while waiting at the doorstep of a hospital in Visakhapatnam, India.
The one-year-old who had tested positive for coronavirus was at the hospital with his mother after his condition began deteriorating.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the mother pleading to the hospital officials. But her cries went in vain as the hospital was fully occupied and had no beds to spare for the infant.
cThe boy died in the arms of his mother while waiting in an ambulance outside the hospital.
Representational image. Stephanie Keith/Getty Images