JEYPORE/BHUBANESWAR: At least six patients of Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital (SLN MCH) in Koraput perished in a span of hours late on Tuesday, prompting the state government to order an inquiry after kin of the deceased brought up allegations of medical negligence.
Sources said five patients, aged 27 to 45, suffering from cancer, stab and head injuries, died during treatment on Tuesday night while another died on Wednesday morning. Four of the five were admitted to the ICU of surgery department and the remaining two were in the wards.
Family members of the patients admitted to the ICU alleged that they developed serious complications minutes after a nursing staff administered an injection and died in a quick succession.
The deceased were identified as Sukra Majhi (Semiliguda), Rukmi Penthia (Ambaguda), Phulamati Majhi (Kalahandi), Bhagaban Paraja and Jagannath Pujari (Borigumma) besides Bati Khara (Koraput).
The deceased included a road accident victim, a cancer patient and two liver patients, besides two others, who were admitted following a stabbing incident.
Sources said the ICU patients were administered Norepinephrine injection, which usually helps stabilise blood pressure. “My brother died nearly 15 minutes after he was administered the injection,” alleged Jagannath’s brother.
As soon as the news spread, irate relatives rushed to the hospital and demanded a probe into the sudden deaths of patients.
Director of medical education and training Prof Santosh Mishra said a team has been formed with specialists drawn from SCB MCH at Cuttack and MKCG MCH at Berhampur to probe into the allegations.
“The team has been asked to find out whether there were any adverse complications due to administration of the injection and submit a report within two days,” he added.
Medical superintendent Dr Susanta Kumar Sahu denied the allegations of wrong treatment. The patient, who was undergoing treatment in the surgery ward, died of septicemia and another had liver disease, he claimed. “There is nothing unusual in the deaths. While two others had serious stab injuries in their abdomen, one was suffering from cervical cancer in the fourth stage. Another road accident victim had head injuries,” he said.
Dr Sahu said he has verified the treatment details and preliminary investigation revealed no negligence on the part of the treating team. “The injection is administered to raise blood pressure in patients with acute hypotension,” he said.
Meanwhile, the district administration has provided an assistance of Rs 10,000 each to the kin of the deceased from the Redcross fund.