Pulwama man dies, family alleges medical negligence

Pulwama, Aug 19: Family members of a patient from Malikpora locality of South Kashmir’s Pulwama who died a couple of days ago staged a peaceful demonstration on Saturday inside premises of district hospital demanding an inquiry into his death due to alleged medical negligence.
Altaf Hussain, from Malikpora locality of Pulwama town, died on intervening night of 15 and 16 August, 2023 at his residence after he was “discharged” from district hospital (DH) Pulwama.
His family members have accused doctors at District Hospital (DH) Pulwama for mishandling the case and demanded an inquiry into it.
Talking to Rising Kashmir, one of the relatives of the deceased, Ashfaq Hussain, said that it was on 15th August, 2023, that Altaf started complaining of chest pain after which he was admitted at DH Pulwama with high blood pressure at around 7:30 pm.
He added that Altaf was given some medication and asked to undergo ECG.
“Doctors at DH informed us that Altaf’s ECG report is normal,” he said.
Ashfaq further said that after the initial treatment the blood pressure of their patient was less than the initial reading but it was still high after which he was given some injections.
“We were asked to wait for some time and in the meantime our patient was asked to undergo repeat EGC,” he said, adding thereafter they were asked to take their patient home.
The family members said that the patient was admitted to DH Pulwama from 7:30pm to 11:15 pm.
They said that at home his condition deteriorated again and when they brought the patient to DH Pulwama at around 12:30 am he was declared dead.
The family members said that the first EGC report was suggestive Altaf had suffered cardiac arrest.
“The on duty doctor was unable to read the EGC report because he was neither a cardiologist nor a physician but a surgeon,” the family members said, blaming the doctors for the death of their patient.
Another relative, Dr Mohammad Yusuf Negroo, said that they moved an application before medical superintendent of DH Pulwama on Saturday demanding investigation into the alleged medical negligence and also sought copies of medical registration certificates of the doctors who attended their patient.
One of the on -duty doctors who attended the patient said that the EGC report of the patient was normal as there were no changes in it.
“He had died most probably due to SAH (Subarachnoid haemorrhage) at his home,” he said, adding that it can happen anytime.
When the on duty doctor was asked as to why the patient was discharged from the hospital when his condition was unstable, he said that the patient left the hospital on his own despite their directions not to leave.
Medical Superintendent, DH, Pulwama, Dr Abdul Gani Dar said that they have constituted a three member committee to inquire the allegations.
“The committee has been given three days’ time to submit the report,” he said, adding that further action will be taken on the basis of the report.