Suicide in hospital: Probe hints at medical negligence

Blurb: Debunks doctors’ claim that the patient was suffering from depression

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 7

The report of inquiry into the alleged suicide by a Covid patient at Deen Dayal Updhyay Hospital here on September 22 points towards medical negligence with no conclusive evidence of her being under psychiatric treatment, as claimed by the doctors attending on her.

The 54-page report submitted by Additional District Magistrate, Shimla, Prabha Rajeev says the 54-year-old woman, hailing from the Chopal area, was not given any medication for hypertension for three days ever since she was admitted to the hospital after testing positive for Covid-19. The report mentions that the woman had to sleep on the floor of the ward for three days and she had been feeling very low.

The report debunked doctors’ claim that the patient was suffering from depression.

The doctor who attended on the woman at Chopal and had referred her to DDU Hospital said the woman suffered from hypertension only.

The post-mortem report cited asphyxia as the cause of her death. The woman committed suicide by hanging herself at the hospital on the intervening night of September 22 and 23.

The report is based on the statements of three patients undergoing treatment in the same ward as the deceased woman.

The Himachal Medical Officers’ Association has demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.