Ceasework by docs takes death toll in state to 3
Kolkata: The prolonged ceasework by junior doctors at various government medical colleges has claimed two lives in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 3 so far in the state.
According to sources, a woman had given birth to a boy at the College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital at Kamarhati in North 24-Parganas three days ago.
The newborn infant later developed respiratory distress. The family members of the victim alleged during a television interview on Thursday that the infant was denied treatment and hence they had to shuttle between the hospitals in the city with the baby. He was not properly treated and eventually died, a family member of the deceased alleged.
In a similar incident of negligence, 28-year-old Pratima Mondal died at the emergency ward of SSKM Hospital at around 12.50 pm on Thursday. The victim, a resident of Tamluk in East Midnapore, had been suffering from some ailments in her uterus. She was taken to a local hospital by her family members and later shifted to SSKM on Tuesday.
Prashanta Mondal, a relative of the patient, alleged that she was denied treatment at the emergency ward since her admission, due to the ongoing strike of the junior doctors. He also said that the patient would not have died, had the Chief Minister visited the hospital earlier.
West Bengal Medical Council Chairman Dr Nirmal Maji said that they would
take steps against the junior doctors who have been denying emergency services to the patients.
Dr Maji said that there is a Supreme Court ruling which mandates that no doctors can join strikes, thereby hampering medical services to the patients. He also hinted at stern steps against the junior doctors if they do not join their work.
Meanwhile, as many as 18 doctors from the College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital reportedly resigned, expressing a lack of security and infrastructural lapses at the hospital. The state medical council is keeping a tab on the entire development.
Governor Keshari Nath Tripath on Thursday urged all the doctors in the state to resume their work and take care of the patients. A press statement issued by the Governor's office said that the representatives of Joint Platform of Doctors and Doctors' Association of ABVP West Bengal met the Governor on Thursday about the current situation.
They submitted memoranda to the Governor, which are being sent to the state government for taking appropriate action. They have demanded adequate security and protection for the doctors in the hospitals, proper investigation and punishment for all those who attacked the junior doctors.
The representatives stated that they will resume duties on receipt of firm and credible assurance of their security by the state government, the press statement says.
