AP: Suspense Over Woman PG Medico’s Sudden Death at Siddartha GMC Hospital

Vijayawada: A 26-year-old medical student pursuing post-graduation in anaesthesia at the Siddartha Government Medical College (GMC), identified as B. Deepika died under suspicious circumstances at the government hospital on Thursday.

According to the medical college and hospital authorities, Deepika and junior doctor Divya had attended two cases in the hospital during the previous night. Later, they ordered food from outside and ate it. Deepika moved to her duty room for some rest.

During the night, both Deepika and Divya had to check a patient scheduled for surgery the next day and give clearance. But Deepika complained of nausea and asked her junior to check the patient. She asked the junior to give her a shot of ondansetron to control her feeling of nausea.

Accordingly, the junior gave Deepika the shot. After a while, Divya proceeded to check the patient. Divya then called Deepika to inform her about the patient’s condition. But when Deepika did not respond to her call, Divya went to check Deepika in the duty room.

When Divya did not find Deepika in the duty room on her return, she went to the Emergency ward and found Deepika lying unconscious on the table. Divya alerted heads of departments and all other doctors who rushed there and gave CPR, ventilator support and arranged all life supporting equipment up to 3:30 am to revive Deepika.

Doctors informed the college principal and hospital medical superintendent Dr. A. Yedukondala Rao at about 3:36 am, who rushed to the hospital and reached at about 4:10 am and reviewed the situation. Dr Yedukondala Rao ordered a CT scan and carried out an ECG. But Deepika had died by then.

Thereafter, the hospital superintendent informed Deepika’s parents in Anantapur about the development. Further, he informed Deepika’s elder sister Monica, who is also a doctor. In addition, Dr Yedukondala Rao also informed the police about the development.

At the request of her parents not to send her body to the mortuary until they arrive at the hospital, the hospital superintendent ordered that Deepika’s body be kept in a freezer box after taking special permission.

Deepika’s parents and elder sister arrived by Thursday afternoon and expressed shock over her sudden death, as she appeared to be healthy. They checked for themselves all the CCTV footage and asked all the details on the circumstances leading to her death.

A committee has been constituted by senior professors to find the reasons leading to the death of Deepika.

Dr Yedukondala Rao said, “We are clueless on the reason for her death. She had been a good student. As per her friends in the college and hospital, Deepika had no issues or trouble. We have sent her body for post-mortem. We are awaiting the report to know the reason.”

Health minister Satya Kumar Yadav has taken stock of the development. He has talked to Deepika’s father and assured all support to the family.

Machavaram police have booked a case of suspicious death and are investigating.