FIR against Mumbai hospital after sudden death of seven COVID-19 patients

Patients suffocated to death because of lack of oxygen supply, says former MP Kirit Somaiya

 

Mumbai(Agencies):  A First Information Report has been filed against the Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Care Hospital in suburban Mumbai after seven patients undergoing treatment for the COVID-19 virus died suddenly within a span of 90 minutes on May 30.

According to former Member of Parliament Kirit Somaiya, all the patients admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital suffocated to death after a sudden fall in oxygen supplied to them.

”All the seven patients died within 90 minutes after the oxygen supply suddenly fell. The oxygen system at the hospital was faulty and there was not enough pressure in the tanks,” Somaiya, who along with the kin, of a patient filed a complaint against the hospital.

Somaiya and Nanda Bhamre, daughter of a deceased patient Dada Bhamre, filed the police complaint alleging negligence on the part of the hospital management.

In her complaint, Bhamre said her father was admitted to the hospital on May 27 after testing positive for COVID-19 virus. On May 30, the family was informed by the hospital that Bhamre had died after being put on a ventilator, Bhamre said in her complaint.

She alleged that the oxygen system of the hospital was faulty as a result of which her father lost his life.

Meanwhile, relatives of other victims who died while undergoing treatment at the HBT Trauma Care Hospital have come forward to file complaints against the hospital management.

Somaiya said relatives of more victims will come forward and file police complaints against the

hospital management and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, which manages the hospital.

The hospital authorities however denied that there was any problem with the oxygen supply.

 “There is no problem with the oxygen supply at the hospital. An inquiry has been ordered by the special task force appointed by the Maharashtra Government into the deaths of seven patients and we are waiting for its report,” Dr Vidya Mane, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, said.

She also added that a new oxygen plant was being installed at the hospital as the number of patients admitted is increasing.