The Intensive Medical Care Unit (IMCU) of the government General Hospital (GH) bore the brunt following death of a patient,as the relatives smashed the glasses of the door and damaged a few stands inside the unit.
Sources said the violent incident followed the death of Munusamy (53),a resident of Attuvaikalpet in Villianur, who was admitted to the GH due to high blood pressure on Thursday last. He was shifted to the IMCU on Friday and was put under observation. The patient died early on Tuesday morning.
On hearing about the death, a few of the patients’ relatives turned violent and caused destruction to the IMCU alleging inadequate treatment.
According to sources, the relatives blocked the way to the IMCU urging action against those who failed to provide adequate treatment to patient.
However, a top hospital official denied the allegations and said the patient had been put on ventilator for the last four days following complications due to brain stem stroke. His vital organs stopped functioning after the stroke. The delay in bringing the patient to the hospital proved fatal.
The attack on the IMCU highlighted the need for putting effective security system in place so that the doctors, nurses and other staff could work without fear.
One of the hospital staff, who does not want to be identified, said, a patient admitted to the GH is followed by relatives and visitors. This often causes inconvenience in treating the patient and if a death occurs, the relatives will target the staff and ransack the properties.
Hospital authorities, when contacted, said efforts are being made to strengthen the security on the premises and restrict the entry of visitors and bystanders of the patients.