Two women die in Shimla hospitals, kin allege negligence in treatment

The Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and Hospital, Shimla, and the Kamla Nehru Hospital (KNH), Shimla, witnessed a ruckus today morning following the death of two women. While 72-year-old Seb Dasi died in the IGMC, 28-year-old Archana Sharma breathed her last at the KNH following a caesarian delivery the previous day. The distraught relatives of the deceased women levelled serious allegations of negligence in the treatment of their patients. The Medical Superintendents of both hospitals rejected the allegations.

“I brought my mother from Nerchowk medical college to the IGMC this morning. She had suffered a heart attack. She did not get prompt treatment here, which led to her death,” said Leeladhar, distraught son of Seb Dasi. He alleged that the hospital staff harassed him even after his mother had died.

In a written statement, IGMC Medical Superintendent Dr Rahul Rao said that the patient was suffering from blood cancer and had swelling in her liver and spleen. “She had some heart issues as well and was referred to the IGMC from Nerchowk medical college after first aid for heart attack. She was given prompt treatment when brought here this morning. As she had suffered a heart attack and was shifted to the CCU, where she died while being treated,” said Dr Rao. He, however, did not respond to the allegations of harassment levelled by Leeladhar.

At the KNH, Archana died today after a caesarean delivery on Thursday. The deceased belonged to Cheog village in Theog tehsil of Shimla district. According to her relatives, Archana was fine until the morning but collapsed when the staff asked her to shift to another room. “She was asked to shift to another room this morning. When she got up, she collapsed and died,” they said.

Dr Sunder Singh Negi, Medical Superintendent of the KNH, denied the allegations of negligence and said that the patient was alright after a cesarean delivery and was on liquid diet. “As per our protocol, she had to be shifted from the post operative recovery room to another room this morning. She collapsed while being shifted,” he added.

Dr Negi said, “The reason for her sudden death could be amniotic fluid embolism, which is rare.” He ordered an internal inquiry into the death. “The report will be submitted within three days,” he added.