Tragic Death at Kolkata Hospital Sparks Outrage Over Patient Care
A shocking incident at a state-run hospital in Kolkata has raised serious questions about patient care and accessibility, following the death of a 45-year-old man who was allegedly forced to walk to a toilet despite his critical condition.
Patient Collapses After Walking to Toilet
Biswajit Samanta, a resident of Nimta, collapsed and died on Monday at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. According to his family, Samanta had been admitted to the trauma care unit in the early hours, complaining of severe breathing difficulties and nosebleeding. After receiving initial treatment from doctors, he was asked to wait for further admission procedures.
When Samanta needed to use the toilet, hospital staff reportedly directed him to a pay-and-use facility located outside the trauma centre. His son has alleged that despite repeated requests for a trolley or wheelchair, none was provided, forcing his critically ill father to walk the distance.
Hospital Infrastructure Under Scrutiny
The family claims that while the trauma care unit has three toilets, the patient facility was locked for renovation, leaving no accessible option for those in critical condition. Samanta collapsed on the first floor of the toilet complex and was rushed back to the emergency ward, where he was declared dead shortly after.
Medical Superintendent and Vice Principal Saptarshi Chatterjee acknowledged that only one patient toilet is currently functional and is undergoing renovation due to heavy usage. He stated that the hospital administration is actively exploring solutions, including the installation of bio-toilets, to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Police Investigation and Political Response
Local police have registered an unnatural death case and launched a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding Samanta's death. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from political figures, with Trinamool Congress MLA Atin Ghosh, who serves on the hospital's patient welfare committee, calling it a "serious lapse" in patient care.
Ghosh emphasized that critically ill patients should never be forced to leave trauma care facilities for basic needs and has promised to seek a detailed report from hospital authorities along with corrective measures to address systemic issues.
Second Recent Death at Same Hospital
This tragic incident comes just days after another death at R G Kar Hospital on March 20, when a 40-year-old man was struck inside a lift, leading to the arrest of five individuals. The back-to-back incidents have intensified scrutiny of patient safety protocols and infrastructure maintenance at the medical facility.
The hospital administration now faces mounting pressure to implement immediate improvements to prevent further tragedies and restore public confidence in the state-run healthcare institution.
