Telangana: Farmer Dies After Treatment Denial at Four Hospitals

Hyderabad: The family of a 45-year-old farmer, who had attempted suicide, alleged he died after being denied treatment at four hospitals, including at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (Nims) here, at about 5.30 pm on Monday. The government has ordered an inquiry.

The deceased, Islamabad Ravi Naik, 40, from Irlapally thanda in Mahbubnagar, had attempted to die by suicide after his cotton crop failed. For cultivating the crop and digging two borewells, across two acres of land, he had borrowed Rs.4 lakh.

Fearing inability to repay the debt, the farmer allegedly took the extreme step on the field around 9 am on Monday.

After his family and other farmers around him spotted him, they shifted him to a local hospital, where doctors recommended that he be taken to the Mahbubnagar Government Hospital. Citing lack of availability of beds, around 11 am, the hospital recommended that the family to shift Ravi to the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences.

Around 1.30 pm, the family reached Nims and waited till 5 pm, only to be told there were no beds available. The family later shifted Ravi to Gandhi Hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment. His body was shifted to the mortuary for postmortem examination.

In this regard, health minister Damodar Rajanarsimha ordered an investigation committee into the allegations of lack of hospital support. The minister further stated that strict action would be taken against anyone found negligent.

Director of Medical Education Narendra Kumar instructed additional directors of medical education Dr Rajarao and Dr Nagender to form the committee.

Responding to the allegations, Nims doctors stated that the patient was brought to the emergency department at around 3.50 pm, and not at 1.30 pm as claimed, from Mahbubnagar in an ALS ambulance equipped with a mechanical ventilator. He was diagnosed with “Day 2 of organophosphorus poisoning.”

“The patient was promptly assessed by the emergency team. In view of his critical condition, the attendants were informed that he required ICU care. By the time the patient arrived, all 20 ventilators in the emergency department were occupied, the red triage area was filled beyond capacity, and all beds in both the MICU and SICU were occupied. The attendants were advised to immediately shift the patient to another hospital with ventilator support. The patient left the hospital by 4 pm,” said Nims director N. Bheerappa.

Jadcherla Town Police station has registered a case under Section 194 of the BNSS for death under suspicious circumstances. “The family was told to go to Gandhi but they instead took him to the Mahbubnagar government hospital. We have not registered any case of medical negligence,” said Jadcherla inspector B. Kamalakar.