BENGALURU: High drama took place at Victoria Hospital on Tuesday morning after a 23-year-old patient accused the hospital staff of throwing him outside the premises. While the patient said that he had to sit in the rain the entire night, hospital staff rubbished his claims, saying he was discharged on Monday itself and the entire story was concocted to grab media attention.
Prasanna, a native of Ramanagar was brought to the hospital two weeks ago and his mother Akkaiah alleged that the staff demanded bribe and he was forced to leave the ward. On Tuesday after reporters arrived, the staff took him inside the ward.
Akkaiah, 45, spoke to reporters and said that Prasanna had sustained spinal injuries after a tree fell on him at their farm house. “I brought him to Victoria Hospital two weeks ago and the staff started treatment. On Monday they started asking for money to continue the treatment and I requested them to give two days time to arrange it. But they forced us to leave the ward and around evening nursing staff threw him out,” said the mother.
“I managed to put him next to the garden. Despite heavy rains, the hospital staff did not bother to help us. My son was lying in the water till morning. The ordeal ended only after some public who noticed us called mediapersons,” she added.
Firoz, who helped the family, told Express: “Akkaiah was shocked. Even though she requested for some time to arrange money, the staff did not consider. I recorded the scene and sent the video to media. When reporters reached the spot, the hospital staff immediately tried to take him to the ward. After the news was telecast in TV channels, they apologized and got him re-admitted.”
When contacted, Dr Balaji Pai, medical superintendent, Emergency and Trauma Care Centre, Victoria Hospital, refuted all the allegations. “The patient had a chest injury, abdominal injury and pelvic injury. He was here for two weeks during which he received treatment from a neurosurgeon, orthopaedic and even a psychologist. On Monday, he was advised bedrest and discharged,” he said.
“Citing inadequate facilities at home, he came back and pretended to have spent all night in the rain. We even offered to re-examine the patient to check if he has developed any new complications since his discharge. But he was adamant on creating a scene and insisted to lie outside till television channel journalists arrived,” he added. Dr Pai further alleged a patient’s scheduled surgery had to be postponed because of the drama created by the patient and a TV channel.