Probe committee constituted over allegations of negligence behind youth’s death at GMC Handwara

Kupwara, Dec 10: Chaotic scenes were witnessed Tuesday early morning at Associated District Hospital GMC Handwara after a 36 year old man passed away here.

Soon after the news, his attendants raised slogans against hospital officials for the alleged medical negligence.

An attendant said that one of the paramedical staff members misbehaved with them for raising questions of non-availability of a doctor. “We simply asked them why the doctor was not available at the critical moment to which he not only misbehaved but heckled us,” he added.

“After my cousin brother developed pain in his chest and left arm, we shifted him to GMC Handwara early in the morning but we never knew that he would collapse. On reaching Associated District Hospital GMC Handwara, a paramedical staff member came to attend to our patient and no doctor was present at the moment. If my brother had received prompt treatment he would not have left so early,” said another attendant.

The deceased identified as Abdul Hameed Sofi, a resident of Arampora, Kupwara has left behind his three children and wife.

Medical Superintendent Dr Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, however refuted the allegations. Bhat said that the deceased was admitted to the hospital at 6:45 am with chest pain. “The on duty doctor swiftly attended the deceased and suggested ECG and TropT which turned out to be normal. He was kept under observation for quite some time and after administering an injection and a tablet, the patient suddenly collapsed,” Dr Aijaz said.

To a question about allegations of non-availability of a doctor, Bhat said that hospital CCTV footage was checked in front of Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Handwara and Tehsildar Handwara which suggested that the patient was attended by two doctors and paramedical staff. He said that nothing like manhandling by paramedical staff members appeared in the CCTV footage.

Meanwhile a three member committee headed by Assistant Commissioner Revenue Kupwara has been framed by Deputy Commissioner Kupwara to probe the actual cause of death of the deceased and furnish a detailed report within seven days.

An official communiqué in this regard said, “Whereas, it has been reported on social media that a patient namely Ab. Hamid Sofi S/o Gh Rasool Sofi R/o Arampora, Drugmulla has expired due to the alleged medical negligence in District Hospital Handwara and in order to ascertain the facts and circumstances leading to the death of the said patient, it has become imperative to initiate an inquiry into the incident”.

“Now therefore, it is hereby ordered that an Inquiry committee headed by Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Kupwara and comprising of two officers shall conduct in-depth inquiry into the said incident and submit its findings along-with specific recommendations for fixing the responsibility of negligence, if any to this office within 7 days positively,” reads the order.

The members of the committee include Dr Mubashir, MD Physician, SDH Sogam and Dr Gulzar, MS General Surgery, SDH Kupwara.

Medical Superintendent, Associated District Hospital GMC Handwara has been asked to facilitate the committee for conducting the inquiry in a transparent manner.