Abandoned patient lying 'untreated' at GMC hospital for last 4 days

5/16/2015

Nitesh Sangral

Early Times Report  

Jammu, May 16: An unconscious unattended man is awaiting treatment at GMC hospital for the past four days. The indifference of the doctors and the hospital administration reflects their insensitivity. 

Senior doctor of GMC hospital preferring anonymity informed Early Times that the patient was admitted to the emergency ward of the hospital three days ago by locals. On the first day, he was attended by doctors like any other patient in the hospital. But when it became increasingly clear no one was with him, the hospital authorities allegedly abandoned him. Significantly, it is not the first instance of such gross negligence on the part of the hospital authorities.

When this correspondent talked with patient, he said, "My name is Krishan Lal and 140 -year- old resident of Jain Bazaar Jammu. My three sons one of them policeman, "he claimed and he failed to give more details about himself.

"For the past four-five days he was outside the Emergency and his clothes were not changed and doctors didn't make an attempt to treat the patient and left him to die, "eyewitness said, adding that he had been completely ignored by hospital authorities and had turned a blind eye to his deteriorating condition.

CMO Dr Ritesh said, "We had treated him, the patient was suffering general weakness. He was put on drip after given glucose drip. When he felt good, he ran away from the emergency. A Left Against Medical Advice (LAMA) report was lodged in the police station." But contradictory the claims made by CMO, Police Chowki Officer of GMC hospital Mohammad Tufail said no LAMA report was filed and the abandoned patient has been lying outside the emergency ward last four days, "he stated.

When contacted Superintendent of GMC hospital Jammu Dr. Ravinder Rattan Paul said he had issued directions for admitting the patient. But unfortunately, no one come forward.

Later, Police sources informed that one hour later of Early Times intervention, the hospital administration admitted him and changed his clothes. "Two ward boys reached police chowki with false reports of LAMA. The police refused to take LAMA reports as police officials believed that he had not ran away. However, the ward boys dumped him in the same place again."