Uttar Pradesh: ‘Removed’ by hospital, ailing girl dies outside

“Before sealing the hospital, a patient admitted there was shifted to the  Ghiror community health centre. Notices have been issued to hospital authorities, including doctors and staff, to appear before the inquiry team with their documents. The license of the hospital was renewed in May,” the CMO said. “The team will also look into the treatment the girl was administered at the hospital. If needed, a health department team will be sent to the girl’s house to know more about the matter,” the CMO added.

Bharti was a resident of Oye village under the Ghiror police station circle in Mainpuri district — around four kilometres from the hospital. Her father Girish Chand is a farmer. Bharti is survived by her parents, a brother and a sister. A video purportedly shows the seemingly lifeless girl collapsed over the seat of a motorcycle as a woman accompanying her cries — apparently on realising that the girl is now dead. Bharti’s cousin Praveen Yadav said Tuesday afternoon, Bharti was taken to the hospital as she was suffering from a high fever.

“After the admission, doctors started treatment. On Wednesday, Bharti’s condition suddenly started deteriorating. Bharti’s aunt Manisha, who was attending her, told us that Bharti’s condition deteriorated soon after hospital staff administered her an injection,” Yadav said.

“Doctors then referred Bharti to another hospital, but before we could arrange a vehicle to shift her, hospital staff dumped her on Girish’s motorcycle and Bharti died,” Yadav added. Instead of making arrangements to shift her to another hospital, the staff brought the patient out and then fled, the girl’s family alleged. Ghiror police station Station House Officer Bholu Singh Bhati said no complaint has been lodged by the girl’s family in this connection.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who handles the state’s health department, ordered action against the private hospital on Thursday. On social media, Pathak said when the matter came to his notice, he asked the CMO to immediately take “strict action”.

The nodal officer has submitted a preliminary investigation report. “The said Radha Swami Hospital, in front of SSD College, Karhal Road, Mainpuri has been sealed,” he said on ‘X’. “Action will also be taken to cancel the registration of the said hospital and lodge an FIR,” the minister posted on the microblogging site. “Such incidents will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Strictest action will be taken against the culprits,” he added.

Earlier this month, the administration took similar action against Amethi’s Sanjay Gandhi Hospital, run by a trust headed by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, after the death of a patient due to alleged negligence.

— With PTI Inputs