Tension at Odisha hospital over patient death; healthcare services hit

Baripada: Tension ran high at Pandit Raghunath Murmu (PRM) Medical College and Hospital here today after death of a patient allegedly due to medical negligence.

Sources said one Jhunu Das, a resident of Ekatali village in Saraskana of Mayurbhanj district was admitted to the hospital following chest pain. However, she died this morning allegedly due to negligence on the part of doctors.

The situation turned ugly after relatives of the deceased, in a fit of rage, allegedly misbehaved and even assaulted a doctor and a nurse at the hospital holding  them responsible for the death. Protesting this, doctors and nurses of hospital resorted to a dharna in front of the police outpost on the hospital premises.

The healthcare services at the hospital were paralysed for around three hours due to the protest. However, the doctors resumed duties after the pacified them.

“Two persons have been detained for misbehaving with a doctor and a nurse at the hospital. However, no formal complaint has been lodged in connection with the entire incident. Further investigation will be initiated once an FIR is lodged,” said Baripada police station IIC Ashok Nayak.