At the Victoria Hospital, one of the largest government hospitals in Bengaluru, a disturbing case of alleged medical negligence has come to light. In what his family says is gross negligence and a lack of proper medical care, Shah Nawaz died in what is considered unprecedented circumstances for a 45-year-old man and brought about a large uproar.
Shah Nawaz, who served as a delivery executive for a private company, was the provider for his family, consisting of his wife and four small children. A tiny lump in his private area developed about one and a half months ago. When his pain intensified, he began seeking medical care at Victoria Hospital and was quickly admitted to the emergency ward.
The doctors who looked into him apparently diagnosed an infection, and they determined this indicated a need for surgery. The operation was conducted by the Department of Surgery. But complications arose after the procedure, the patient was referred to the plastic surgery department for more treatment.
Suspected Coordination Holes: Inter-Departmental
The family said coordination between departments was severely lacking and contributed to Shah Nawaz’s decline. They were allegedly told at the plastic surgery unit that the wound did not heal enough for them to continue to treat it. The patient was in a critical state with not enough follow-up in this case.
Deep Allegations of Negligence
One of the most shocking allegations that the family make is that Shah Nawaz was discharged from the hospital without the surgical region being sutured properly. They complain that hospital staff kept attempting to send him home despite his bleeding and severe pain instead of re-admitting him.
Members of his family also reported that his wife begged hospital authorities to allow her more treatment, but was ignored. Witnesses say she allegedly begged staff members to re-admit her husband, again, with no success.
Suffering on the Streets
The family was left outside the hospital after he was discharged. Shah Nawaz lay on the footpath in agonising agony, bleeding from his injuries, for close to three days without medical treatment. His condition worsened, even though he had apparently suffered from it. Suffice it to say, about ten days ago, Shah Nawaz died from pain and complications. His family has felt the impact of his death, and his wife is now struggling with the four children they have, one of whom is just a few months old.
Demands for Action and Public Outrage
The widespread outrage of the public over the affair has also led to more questions about government hospitals. There have been calls from many for a complete investigation and enforcement, and for severe penalties and extreme steps to be carried out against those responsible if it can be proved that wrongdoing.
Both activists and citizens alike have called for accountability, integrated policies that better coordinate hospital departments and enhanced responsibility within, among other improvements to prevent such tragedies from being repeated.
Hope for an Official Statement
The hospital officials haven’t provided a full statement on the allegations until now. It hasn't been decided if an investigation will be opened into the facts surrounding this case and the responsibility of all the actors involved.
This instance showed me, then and now, the value of delivering patient care, communication and accountability in the medical service problems which must be addressed at once if we wish a repetition of such an event to be prevented.
