Scuffle at BP Poddar hospital after patient dies

Tension ran high at BP Poddar Hospital & Medical Research in Kolkata on Saturday morning following the death of a patient whose family members ransacked a portion of the hospital levelling charges of medical negligence.

The incident sparked panic among the patients who came to the hospital for treatment. Bijay Kumar Kurmi (63), a resident of Taratala, who was admitted to the hospital on August 5 with nerve-related problems, died in the hospital on Saturday morning.

Victim's family members and some locals started demonstrating inside the hospital campus. Some of the staff members of the hospital intervened and urged the family members to lift the demonstration as it was affecting the health services. But the mob continued with the agitation leading to a scuffle between the staff members of the hospital and the victim's relatives.

They went on rampage ransacking a portion of the hospital till the police reached the spot and brought the situation under control.

The family members of the victim alleged that they had so far been charged Rs 20 lakh but there was negligence in the treatment of the patient.

The victim's son Sanjay Kurmi alleged that his father had been admitted to the hospital on a previous occasion but he was discharged without being cured completely. He had to be taken to the hospital as his condition deteriorated after being taken home. He alleged that the patient was admitted with some nerve problems but the doctors started dialysis. The doctors claimed that the dialysis started as his kidney was not functioning properly.

The hospital authorities, however, denied any medical negligence. After being informed, the police rushed to the spot and pacified the mob.