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12 doctors suspended, says CM Mamata Banerjee in two hospital death cases

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Kolkata, Jan 16: The West Bengal health department has suspended 12 doctors after the death of a woman and a newborn baby in the alleged expiry saline case, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Thursday.

Five women fell ill after being allegedly administered expired Ringer’s Lactate at a state-run medical college and hospital in West Midnapore district. One of the five women, Mamoni Ruidas died on January 10, and the baby passed away on Thursday morning. The baby was of Rekha Shaw, one of the five surviving women.

“Parallel probes by the state health department and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the matter had proved the negligence of these doctors towards duty beyond doubt. Had these doctors performed their duties properly, these lives could have been saved. These 12 doctors have been suspended already. Apart from that the CID is conducting a probe into the matter and legal proceedings will be adopted against the doctors as per findings and legal provisions,” the Chief Minister said.

These suspended doctors include the medical superintendent-cum vice-principal (MSVP) and the resident medical officer of the said medical college & hospital.

The CM also said that had there been CCTVs within the operation theatres, the offenders could have been caught red-handed. “I think that CCTV machines should be installed in each and every operation theatre and I have asked the state health secretary to take necessary action on this count,” the Chief Minister said.

She said the compensation of Rs 5,00,000 will be provided by the state government to the family members of the deceased woman.

“At the same time, we would also be offering a job to one member of the family if they want,” the Chief Minister said.

She also said that there is a rule of eight hours of duty for the senior doctors, which many of them are not following. “Such negligence towards medical duty is equivalent to a criminal offence. So we need to take strong action. If you think that you are unable to perform the prescribed duties you can quit your job and go to any other state,” the Chief Minister said.

Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, who accompanied the Chief Minister at the press conference, said that from the investigation it is clear the operation protocols were not followed in this particular case. “The junior doctors were given the responsibility of the operation in the absence of senior doctors,” Pant said.

However, the Chief Minister disagreed with the popular thought that the administration of expired Ringer’s Lactate was responsible for the tragedies at the said medical college and hospital. “Had it been the case, then there would have been similar reports from other hospitals in the state where the same solution was used,” the Chief Minister said.

health

Mumbai Tragedy: Elderly Man Suffers Heart Attack In Andheri; Dies Before Reaching Hospital Due To Unavailability Of Ambulance

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Mumbai: A 73-year-old Andheri resident, Steven Fernandes, suffered a fatal heart attack in the early hours of Thursday as his family struggled to arrange an ambulance in time. Despite living just five minutes from a private hospital and 20 minutes from the civic-run Dr. R.N. Cooper Hospital, critical minutes were lost due to an unresponsive emergency service and delays from a private ambulance.

“At 2 am, my husband and I were frantically calling every number we could find for an ambulance,” Mohua Gupta, Fernandes’ daughter-in-law, told media. Their first attempt was to dial 108, the state emergency response service, but the call either didn’t go through or connected to 103, the police helpline. With no help forthcoming, the family turned to an online search, which led them to a private ambulance vendor from Andheri East.

Relief Turns Into Distress Due To Ambulance Delay

Relieved that someone had agreed to come, the family focused on Fernandes, who lay unconscious. Moving him without assistance was impossible, as he weighed over 100 kg. However, their relief turned to distress when the private ambulance took over 40 minutes to arrive, despite the lack of traffic at that hour.

Upon arrival, the ambulance lacked essential medical equipment. “There was only a driver and a helper, no paramedic, no physician, not even a stretcher. Just a rubber mat for him to lie on,” Gupta told media. There was also no oxygen supply or masks, which are critical for cardiac emergencies.

Adding to their frustration, before even shifting the patient, the ambulance service sent a text message demanding Rs 5,500 for the trip. “We were shocked. After protesting, they reduced the charge to Rs 2,500, but we had no choice but to pay,” she recalled.

Patient Passed Away Before Reaching Hospital

Shortly after the private ambulance left, the family dialed 108 again. This time, the call was diverted to Cooper Hospital, and an official ambulance was dispatched. However, it took another 30 minutes to arrive. By then, the crucial Golden Hour, the first 60 minutes after a heart attack, when timely medical intervention can be life-saving, had passed. Fernandes’ pulse had flatlined by the time he reached the hospital.

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Crime

‘Justice will prevail’: Father of R.G. Kar doctor on Calcutta High Court’s order to CBI

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Kolkata, March 24: With The Calcutta High Court on Monday directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a comprehensive report on the rape and murder of the junior doctor of the R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, the victim’s father welcomed the court’s intervention.

“The judge has asked the CBI to determine how many people were involved and take further action. They have been directed to present the case diary in court on Friday. We trust the judiciary and believe that justice will prevail,” the father said.

The parents had moved the court raising concerns raised over the slow pace of the investigation and alleged attempts to shield those responsible.

The father also criticised the state government’s inconsistent stand, saying: “Sometimes they say there is no objection, other times they raise objections. We don’t understand their position. What investigation did they conduct in the first five days? Do they even have the right to question the probe?”

The victim’s mother also expressed dissatisfaction with the probe, alleging that her daughter was tortured at the hospital for refusing to accept fake medicines, injections, and saline.

“The CBI has not been able to conduct a proper probe yet. From the beginning, we maintained that Sanjay Roy was not the only accused of my daughter’s murder. Her colleagues, VP, Sandeep Ghosh, and others are involved in this institutional murder,” she claimed.

She further alleged that the state’s Mamata Banerjee government had been obstructing the investigation since August 9, despite her daughter being a government employee who died while on duty.

“The Health Minister and the Chief Minister were responsible for identifying those involved. But from day one, there have been efforts to cover up the matter. However, we will not give up. There may be delays, but we will get justice,” she asserted.

The Supreme Court, which is hearing the case, had recently permitted parallel hearings in the case at the Calcutta High Court, following which the victim’s parents approached the court with a fresh plea questioning the CBI’s progress.

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health

Delay in construction of Bhiwandi maternity and child hospital, Health Minister orders Rais Shaikh to visit hospital with government officials

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Mumbai: After the issue of delay and irregularities in the construction of maternity hospital in Bhiwandi was raised in the Assembly, Health Minister Prakash Abitkar announced that local MLA Rais Shaikh will personally visit the hospital along with senior officials and necessary action will be taken on his report. Abitkar announced that he will work to equip the hospital and arrange personnel there to make it operational as soon as possible.

Abitkar made this remark while responding to the issue raised by Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh during the Q&A session in the Assembly on Wednesday. Bhiwandi city and rural areas have a population of 1.8 million, yet there is only one IGM hospital. MLA Rais Shaikh said that this hospital is able to provide service to only 27 percent of the women of the area, while the remaining 73 percent women have to go to Mumbai and other places for treatment.

Highlighting the delay and irregularities in the construction of the Mother and Child Hospital, MLA Rais Shaikh said that the deadline for this project is 400 days. Today, 376 days have passed since the work order was issued, but only 36 per cent of the work has been completed. Is it possible for the government to complete the remaining 74 per cent work in just 24 days? MLA Rais Shaikh said that despite the huge delay, no action has been taken against the responsible officials or contractors.

Will the government take action against those responsible for the delay and poor quality work? How many more days will it take to complete this project? What will happen to the equipment and manpower required for the hospital? MLA Rais Shaikh demanded that a parallel process be initiated so that the hospital can start functioning as soon as possible.

Responding to various issues raised by Shaikh, Health Minister Prakash Abitkar suggested that MLA Rais Shaikh should visit the hospital within a month along with the Deputy Director and Superintending Engineer. A report of this visit will be prepared. Action will be taken against the irregularities mentioned in the report and your suggestions will be implemented to start the hospital as soon as possible. The work of the mother and child hospital is expected to be completed by November. We will soon place the necessary orders for the required equipment and manpower, Abitkar said.

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