63-year-old man dies of swine flu : The Tribune India

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63-year-old man dies of swine flu

CHANDIGARH: The death of a 63-year-old former assistant secretary of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) due to swine flu has snowballed into a controversy with family members of the deceased accusing the authorities of Fortis Hospital, Mohali, of keeping them in the dark about the ailment.



Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 16

The death of a 63-year-old former assistant secretary of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) due to swine flu has snowballed into a controversy with family members of the deceased accusing the authorities of Fortis Hospital,  Mohali, of keeping them in the dark about the ailment.

The hospital authorities, however, have termed the allegations baseless saying the family members were informed about the illness. Priyanka, Public Relations Officer, Fortis Hospital,  Mohali, maintained  that  due diligence was shown in the treatment. The deceased, identified as Harpal Singh Bath, was suffering from swine flu for the past one week and died yesterday at Fortis Hospital in Mohali.

The family members alleged that they learnt about the ailment yesterday when a team from the Health Department visited their house and started prophylactic treatment.

“The doctor gave tamiflu tablets to all those who came in contact with the patient. When we asked the reason, we were told that Bath had tested positive for swine flu. We were shocked as we were visiting the hospital for the past one week, but weren’t told about it,” said Prabhdeep Singh, one of the relatives.

He said they visited the hospital to lodge a complaint. “However, we were stunned when the hospital authorities said they learnt about the ailment only in the morning after receiving a report from the Heath Department. If they didn’t know about the ailment, what kind of a treatment were they providing to the patient,” said Prabhdeep.

Had lost son five years ago

The Bath family, living in Sector 45, has suffered a double blow. The family had lost Abhinash Singh, 25-year-old son of Harpal, in an accident five years ago. While the family was trying to come to terms with the loss, fate has dealt another blow to it.

Victim had visited USA

Dr Gaurv Aggarwal, nodal officer of the UT Health Department, said as per preliminary information, the deceased was suffering from hypertension, diabetes and pneumonia. He said the family members and other people who came in contact with him were being given prophylactic treatment. He said the deceased had visited his daughter in the USA in July. However, the family maintained that Harpal was fine when he returned from his foreign trip.

9 swine flu deaths so far

So far, six persons from the city and three from neighbouring states have died due to swine flu. Four more patients — a 48-year-old woman from Dariya, a 47-year-old woman from Sector 45, a 26-year-old woman from Sector 15 and a 24-year-old man from Mani Majra — have tested positive for swine flu. Dr Aggarwal said 38 city residents had tested positive for the flu.

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