OHRC slaps notices on Health dept, SCB over deaths due to alleged negligence

Bhubaneswar, May 2:

The Odisha State Human Right Commission (OHRC) issued notices to the Health secretary and Superintendent, SCB Medical College and Hospital asking them to inquire into the reported negligence and apathy of the SCB Hospital staff that led to the death of two destitute patients suffering from Australia Antigen and HIV positive related ailments.

Taking a serious note of the petition filed by advocate Sankar Prasad Pani and Achyut Sahoo, Secretary, SEVAK, the Commission has asked both the officials to inquire into the matter and submit a report within one month.

The next date for hearing in the matter is June 5.

According to advocate Pani, an unidentified male patient suffering from Australia Antigen (a diseases similar to Hepatitis B) was undergoing treatment in the hospital from April 4. He, however, died on April 15 following alleged negligence on the part of the attending medical staff.

Similarly, another unidentified male HIV positive patient was admitted to the causality ward in the SCB Medical College Hospital on March 29 and died on April 3.

“The patient was asked to sleep on the floor of the causality ward for almost four days whereas the provision is to transfer such cases to concerned departmental wards within 24 hours. Moreover, the patient was not provided with any medical support required for the specific disease,” said the petitioners in their appeal before the Commission.

They have also urged the Commission to take appropriate action against the hospital authorities and the Health department for their negligence in these two cases.