Nightingale Hospital row: After doctors and hospital owners, now common citizens hit the streets

A Citizen’s group has hit the street in Silchar protesting the death of a pregnant lady in City’s allegedly because of medical negligence in a private Nursing Home earlier this week. They staged a protest near the Khudiram Statue and then submitted a deputation to Cachar District Commissioner addressing India’s Prime Minister. Ayush Paul (7), elder son of Sumitra Paul, too, had joined the protest. The memorandum has been handed over to DC by Ayush.

Sumitra Paul, a pregnant woman, died in Nightingale Hospital On November 4. The situation deteriorated when a riotous mob, including inmates of the deceased lady, ran a rampage in the Hospital premises. The mob allegedly harassed, abused healthcare staff and physicians. They even blocked the road. They alleged that the lady had died due to the medical negligence of Dr. Arun Paul Choudhury. Both the conflicting parties have filed FIRs and counter FIRs regarding the incident that unfolded on November 4. All the private nursing homes observed a day of protest against the vandalism in Nightingale Hospital and kept their OPDs closed last Tuesday. A brotherhood of Doctors and healthcare staff had staged a protest in front of DC and SP Offices. They demanded that miscreants who vandalized and attacked hospital staff be arrested, while they say let there be a probe to the lady’s death and let the law take its course.

Now the Citizen’s groups have hit the street in row of Nightingale Hospital incident. They submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India through DC Cachar, where they mentioned the irregularities in the Nursing Homes and dispensaries in Cachar District. They also demanded strict action against the physician who caused the death of Sumitra Paul.

Most of the demonstrators demanded actions against those who were guilty for the death of Sumitra Paul. Many alleged that patients encounter ill behavior from the staff and physicians of Nursing Homes in the Cachar district. This has become a common phenomenon. Inmates of Sumitra Paul alleged from the rally that she was doing well just 10 minutes before her death. Sumitra Paul was scheduled to be released from the hospital that day, but she was given saline before release. And her condition deteriorated just after the saline, they informed. “Who is responsible for this?” they asked. Only a transparent investigation can bring out the truth otherwise the issue of medical negligence will remain uncovered forever.

Reacting to the vandalism in the hospital, they said hospital staffs are only responsible for this. When her inmates were trying to know what happened to Sumitra Paul, the hospital authority forcefully wanted to obstruct them. And this triggered her inmates and relatives. They said everything is recorded in CCTV; they affirmed that a transparent neutral investigation could bring out the truth.