Another death calls for probe

Since there was again no cardiac surgeon on standby, a separate call had to be sent and the blood was then drained from this region. But the patient had already become serious and was put on a respirator and admitted to the intensive cardiac care unit. However, she developed a cardiac arrest and died late in the evening, sources said.

Confirming the case, head of cardiology department Dr Lekha Pathak said there appears to be some trauma8217; where the heart vessels meet the lungs. But she denied there was any perforation and said the cause of death was not yet known and it was not possible to say anything at this point. She also denied there was no cardiac surgeon on standby and claimed that the two units of cardiac surgery are always on emergency duty on alternate days.

However, her claim is belied by the fact that a written consent has been taken from the patient8217;s son, Gajendra, in which he has said he is aware that there is no cardiac surgeon on standby as a matter of routine. Also, there is no time mentioned on the consent letter, and the entire format suggests that the doctors have virtually covered themselves for any eventuality that might take place.

Sources said it is shocking that the hospital administration has been unable to check this practice of doing heart procedures without any cardiac surgeon on standby, though this is accepted as the standard protocol at all places.