Fortis tells dengue patient kin to foot ₹18 lakh bill; Nadda, Vij order probe
GURGAON CASE Besides medicines, hospital allegedly billed family for 660 syringes, 2,700 gloves
NEW DELHI/ CHANDIGARH: After the father of a seven-year-old, who died of dengue in September, demanded a probe into the ₹18 lakh bills the family was charged by Fortis hospital in Gurgaon , Union health minister JP Nadda and state health minister Anil Vij have asked officials to look into the matter assuring action in the case.
The Fortis Memorial Research Institute, besides prescribing expensive medicines, allegedly billed the family for 660 syringes and 2,700 gloves during her 15-day hospital stay, the family said. The hospital had raised a 20-page itemised bill.
The case came into light when Nadda responded to a family friend’s tweet expressing outrage about the billing. “We will take all the necessary action,” the minister said on Twitter.
In a statement, Vij said, “No hospital in Haryana will be allowed to play with the health and sentiment s of people. Directions have been issued to officers to submit the report at the earliest so as to take strict action against the guilty.”
Nadda has asked the state health secretary to probe the matter.
The girl, Adya Singh, was referred to Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon, after she was diagnosed with dengue and her condition deteriorated August 31. She was put on ventilator the next day. She died on September 14.
“She was on ventilator and dialysis for 15 days. The doctors had initially said that she should come off life-support in 24 hours. When that did not happen, they said they wanted to wait and see. After three or four days, we were told that there might be some brain damage. But no CT/MRI was done and the treatment continued,” said Adya’s father Jayant Singh, an IT professional from Gurgaon.
“Seven-year-old baby Adya was brought in to Fortis Memorial Research Institute (Gurgaon), from another private hospital on the morning of 31st August, 2017. She was admitted with Severe Dengue which progressed to Dengue Shock Syndrome and was managed on IV fluids and supportive treatment as there was a progressive fall in platelet count and he mo concentration( decrease in blood plasma volume)... The family was kept informed of the critical condition of the child and the poor prognosis,” a hospital statement said.
All standard medical protocols were followed the treatment and clinical guidelines were adhered to, the hospital said. “When she passed away, we thought at least the doctors tried everything,” Jayant said. It was only after the doctors proposed a full-body plasma transplant (a procedure to remove, treat and return blood plasma),
despite the brain damage, that the family began to question in the treatment.
“My first question was, why perform the procedure? Will it help her? With 80% brain damage, what would her life be like?” said Singh.
When they refused and requested a discharge, they were told they would have to leave against medical advice.
The family said they decided to have Adya discharged from the hospital, and she died at the hospital premise before she could be transferred to another hospital in a private ambulance. Singh added that the family had to request another hospital to take her in just to declare her dead.
“Patient was treated in the Paediatric ICU for 15 days and was critical right from the time of admission requiring Intensive monitoring... Care of ventilated patients in ICU requires a high number of consumables as per globally accepted infection control protocols. All consumables are transparently reflected in records and charged as per actual,” the hospital said. The family said they will file a case in consumer court.