Patient dies in Amritsar, kin allege disruption of Oxygen supply

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 21

Family members of a patient who succumbed to Covid-19 alleged disruption of oxygen supply and created ruckus at Karam Singh Memorial Hospital. The vicitm, Anita Sharma (50), lost battle to the virus on Thursday night.

Jagdish Chand Sharma alleged that his wife Anita died due to lack of oxygen supply and negligence on the part of medical staff of the hospital. “I got her admitted to the hospital on May 12. My daughter checked the supply of oxygen and found it turned off. Following this, we approached the hospital authorities, which immediately swung into action.”

“On Thursday, they put up an oxygen mask on Anita. How can a person inhale when the mask is on and oxygen turned off?” said Sharma.

He alleged that body of the deceased was moved out of the hospital without knowledge of the family members. Kin claimed that they were told that Anita was in a good condition in the morning and she was declared dead at night.

Another person, Vikramjeet Singh, also alleged that his mother Narinder Kaur had passed away due to the negligence of the hospital staff on October 1, 2020. He said his complaint against the hospital was lying with the Civil Surgeon.

Dr Varun Sharma, Anesthesiologist, Karam Singh Memorial Hospital, refuted the allegations and said there was no shortage of oxygen and they were having a two-day buffer stock in the hospital.

He said the patient was shifted from the Military Hospital in a critical condition and due to quality medical care she managed to survive so long.

ACP (North) Sarbjit Singh Bajwa said the police team was at the spot to the maintain law and order. He said the police would not investigate the matter as it pertains to the Health Department.