Patient’s death at Paras Hospital evokes protest by his family

Srinagar, May 24: Death of a 36-year-old patient at Paras Hospital in Srinagar today evoked protests by his family members, alleging medical negligence as the cause of death.

Staging protests demanded strict action against the hospital. The hospital, in a statement issued, expressed condolences to the family, and stated that the patient, who had colon cancer, received optimum care and treatment as per the protocols and had possible coagulopathy, blood’s ability to clot properly.

Enraged family members alleged that their patient was not too sick and walked into the hospital for surgical treatment of a “cyst”. They said the hospital operated upon him twice, and charged Rs 2.5 lakh, and still “murdered” the patient. They demanded that the Chief Minister take cognizance of the issue and act sternly against the hospital. “Where is the accountability? The health department must seal this hospital, which is only looting people and being the reason for the death of young patients,” a woman who identified herself as a family member of the deceased said. The deceased patient, as per the protesting relatives, had an intestine injury during surgery.

However, the hospital, in a statement issued Saturday evening, said that the patient had been discharged from the hospital after getting operated upon for carcinoma of left colon. The hospital said that the 36-year-old patient was admitted on 15th May 2025 and underwent surgery for carcinoma of the left colon.

“Throughout his hospital stay, the patient received comprehensive post-operative care. By the sixth postoperative day, he was on a full oral fiber-free diet, was having regular bowel movements, and was fully ambulatory. In line with standard protocol, he was discharged in stable condition and received a follow-up call on post-operative day 7 to inquire about his well-being,” the hospital said.

Tragically, on the night of 22nd May, the patient returned to the hospital with severe abdominal pain and in a state of shock. The patient, the hospital statement said, suffered a cardiac arrest in the emergency room, was successfully resuscitated. They said the patient was taken to OT and upon exploration, hemoperitoneum did not have “significant bleeder in the operative area and diffuse ooze from surrounding areas suggestive of coagulopathy”, the body’s ability to clot blood. “Corrective measures were taken, after which he was transferred to the ICU in critical condition. Despite the relentless efforts of our ICU and surgical teams, the patient suffered a second cardiac arrest and, sadly, passed away on 24th May due to multi-organ failure,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Sub Divisional Magistrate Kokernag today issued an order cancelling the permission for a medical camp to Paras Hospital scheduled to be organised in his jurisdiction on 26 May.  The medical camp was to be organised at MC Kokernag. The reason for the cancellation of the permission granted on 24 May, was not cited in the order.