BHU hosp deaths: Probe begins

VARANASI: A three- member committee on Saturday began a probe into the death of three patients at BHU’s Sir Sundarlal Hospital in June.

These patients had died after surgery.

After their death, it was alleged the nitrous oxide used in anesthesia was not the standard one.

Set up by the director general, health, the probe committee comprises health department director Dr Rupamkesh, additional director, health, (Varanasi division) Dr BN Singh and chief medical officer (Varanasi) Dr BB Singh.

The committee visited the hospital and met doctors of the department of anesthesia and those who performed the surgery.

It also accessed documents related to the supply of nitrous oxide. Dr BB Singh said the probe will be completed soon. Thereafter, a report will be submitted to the government which will present it before the Allahabad high court that had ordered the director general, health, UP to constitute a committee to probe the matter.

The high court had issued its order after hearing a public interest litigation petition.

After three deaths were reported in June, the hospital’s chief medical superintendent Dr OP Upadhyay had accepted that the condition of one patient deteriorated soon after the operation and he died.

Two other patients also died when their condition turned critical after surgery at the hospital. Of the three patients, two were of urology and one of general surgery.

At the time, Dr Upadhyaya had said a seven-member committee comprising, anesthetists, doctors and pharmacists had been constituted to find out the causes which led to deterioration in condition of patients after the surgery that resulted in death of three patients.

He had said the condition of four other patients turned critical. But they were shifted to the intensive care unit where their condition had been improving fast, he had added.

There were reports that nine patients died when their condition became critical after the surgery. Asked about this, Upadhyay had said, “We have lost three patients, not nine. The information about nine deaths is baseless.”

He had said prima facie it appeared that reaction of nitrous oxide and florin may be the cause of the deaths. But the exact cause would be clear from the committee’s report.