In a disturbing case of alleged medical negligence, the family of a snatching victim has accused the staff of Moga Civil Hospital of allowing an untrained Class IV employee to administer stitches to the injured woman instead of a qualified doctor. The botched procedure left the wound so poorly stitched that it had to be redone two days later.
Alleged Negligence at Moga Civil Hospital
The victim, Pushpa Rani, a resident of Chandigarh Colony, Moga, suffered a torn ear after two snatchers pulled off her gold earring on July 24. She was rushed to the emergency ward of the civil hospital, where her family expected immediate attention from qualified doctors and nursing staff.
Instead, the family alleged, they were left stunned to find a Class IV employee – a non-medical support staffer typically responsible for cleaning and other non-clinical tasks – stepping in to suture her wound, even as senior doctors remained unavailable. According to standard medical protocols, Class IV employees are not trained or authorized to perform any medical procedures, including wound suturing.
Family’s Ordeal
“We brought her to a government facility trusting that she would receive expert care, especially after suffering such a traumatic assault. Seeing uncredentialed support staff holding surgical needles while doctors stood by or remained absent is appalling,” said Davinder Kumar, the victim’s son-in-law and a resident of Chandigarh Colony, Moga, who is the complainant in the case.
Adding to the family’s distress, when they took the elderly woman back to the hospital two days later for a follow-up examination, they were informed that the earlier stitches had not been done properly and that the wound needed to be restitched. The family said the botched procedure left the already traumatized woman in further grave pain and distress, compounding the trauma of the original assault.
The family further alleged that despite the patient’s visible distress and bleeding wound, no senior doctor turned up in time to attend to her, forcing support staff to step in – a grave departure from standard medical protocol and patient safety norms. This practice exposed the patient to serious risks, including infection and improper wound healing, and reflects a lack of accountability within the hospital’s supervisory setup.
Official Response
Dr. Gurwinder Singh, Senior Medical Officer of Civil Hospital, Moga, stated that he would investigate the matter and fix responsibility for the alleged negligence once a formal complaint is received from the victim’s family. “We take such allegations seriously. Once we receive a written complaint, we will conduct a thorough inquiry and take appropriate action against those found responsible,” he said.
Demand for Accountability
The family has demanded a thorough inquiry into the incident and strict disciplinary action against those found responsible for the alleged dereliction of duty. The case has raised serious questions about patient safety and accountability in public healthcare institutions, where untrained staff are sometimes pressed into performing tasks beyond their scope due to staff shortages or neglect.
This incident highlights the need for strict enforcement of medical protocols and adequate supervision to prevent such occurrences. The Tribune has learned that the family is also considering approaching the Punjab State Human Rights Commission if no action is taken.
