A 30-year-old woman suffering from thalassemia died at the Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College and Hospital in Hazaribag on Thursday, with her family alleging that she was not provided oxygen support in time.
Incident Details
The deceased, identified as Sarita Kumar, was admitted to the hospital on Thursday morning. Her husband, Manjeet Kumar, claimed that her oxygen levels began dropping soon after admission. She required blood transfusion and also started experiencing breathing difficulties, he added.
"Despite repeatedly requesting the staff to provide oxygen support, no immediate action was taken. She was later referred to an X-ray room, but she died on the way. She had not been administered blood till then," Kumar alleged.
Hospital Response
Emergency duty doctor Dr. Rajkishore reportedly admitted that prima facie, the incident appears to be a case of negligence on the part of the hospital. "The patient did not receive the assistance she should have been provided. The incident is unpardonable. I have advised the victim's family to submit a written complaint," he said.
Hospital authorities stated that a probe committee would soon be constituted for a detailed investigation. Hospital superintendent Dr. K K Singh, who later met the family, said explanations will be sought from the health staff and doctors who were on duty at the time of the incident.
Political Reaction
Ranjan Choudhary, media representative of Hazaribag MP Manish Jaiswal, has demanded strict action against those responsible for the alleged negligence.
About the Author: Vishvendu Jaipuriar covers Hazaribag and Chatra districts, focusing on crime, politics, and human interest stories. He has covered programs of prominent national and regional leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during their visits to the region, and extensively reported on the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case with a focus on Hazaribag.
