Tragic Death at Kolkata Hospital Exposes Critical Facility Gaps
A 60-year-old cardiac patient tragically collapsed and died early Monday morning at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, after being forced to walk approximately 40 meters and climb a flight of stairs to access a pay-and-use toilet. This heartbreaking incident occurred just three days after another patient was killed by malfunctioning elevator doors in the same hospital's trauma care building, bringing renewed scrutiny to the severe lack of patient facilities in this government-run healthcare institution.
Patient's Final Hours: A Harrowing Sequence of Events
Biswajit Samanta, a resident of Bisharpara in Nimta on Kolkata's northern outskirts, was rushed to the emergency unit of RG Kar Hospital around 3 a.m. after experiencing alarming symptoms including nosebleeds, severe chest pain, shortness of breath, and dizziness. His son, Bishal Samanta, described the terrifying scene: "My father was gasping for breath when we reached the emergency unit on the ground floor of the trauma care centre. Doctors immediately attended to him, administering oxygen and life-saving medications."
After approximately two hours of treatment, Samanta's condition showed improvement, providing temporary relief to his family. However, the patient then expressed the need to use a washroom. When Bishal inquired about facilities, emergency room staff directed him to take his father to the pay-and-use toilet located at the hospital compound's gate—a distance of about 40 meters from the trauma care building.
The Fatal Journey to Basic Facilities
Supported by his wife Ila and son Bishal, the elderly patient gingerly made his way toward the distant toilet facility. The physical exertion intensified significantly when he had to climb 24 steps to reach the male washroom on the first floor of the two-storeyed toilet complex. Tragically, upon reaching the toilet door, Samanta collapsed into his son's arms.
"After we climbed to the upper floor, my father collapsed," Bishal recounted. "Relatives of other patients helped us bring him down. I ran and grabbed the first trolley I could find. We placed him on it and rushed him back to the trauma care building."
Despite immediate resuscitation efforts by medical staff, Biswajit Samanta could not be revived. He was declared dead around 5:30 a.m., just hours after arriving at the hospital seeking emergency care.
Family's Anguish and Systemic Failures
While expressing gratitude for the medical care his father received, Bishal highlighted the preventable nature of the tragedy: "I have no complaint about the medical care—doctors wasted no time. The death could have been avoided if there had been a washroom in the emergency unit. I wish someone had warned me that physical exertion could be fatal for my father and advised me to take him to the toilet on a trolley or wheelchair."
The family's grief is compounded by their personal circumstances. Despite being a driver with limited formal education, the deceased and his wife Ila—who works as a dengue worker for North Dum Dum Municipality—had prioritized their son's education. Bishal, a second-year BTech student, was forced to miss his third-semester examination due to his father's sudden death.
Hospital Administration's Response and Ongoing Issues
RG Kar Hospital authorities acknowledged the facility limitations, explaining that the emergency unit has only one operational toilet, which is reserved for staff use. A hospital official stated: "Space is a significant constraint on the ground floor of the trauma care building. We are unable to make room for new toilets. We are currently discussing potential solutions with stakeholders, including the installation of bio-toilets."
This incident follows the recent elevator-related death of a 40-year-old man who was crushed by malfunctioning doors while taking his child to the same pay-and-use toilet facility. Tala police station has registered an unnatural death case in connection with Samanta's passing, though no criminal charges have been filed at this time.
The consecutive tragedies at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have ignited urgent conversations about patient safety, accessibility, and the fundamental infrastructure requirements in government healthcare facilities. As investigations continue, healthcare advocates are calling for immediate reforms to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
