Attendants damage hospital property after patient’s death

LUCKNOW: After a 48-year-old Covid-19 patient’s death, his attendants damaged property at a private hospital in Chowk here late on Friday evening. This is perhaps the first such instance in the state capital after the death of a coronavirus patient.

The patient was admitted to the Chowk hospital on Thursday in a serious condition. He was then put on ventilator support. He was about to be shifted to another hospital as his attendants demanded that he be admitted to SGPGI but no bed was available there, according to officials. When he collapsed, the attendants went on the rampage and also entered the ICU. Police were called to the hospital after which the matter was resolved.

In a press statement, the office of the Lucknow chief medical officer said, “The patient was serious and was advised admission to a government facility on August 20 after testing positive. The attendants insisted on PGI, but a bed was not available there. The same day they were alloted the Lucknow Heritage Hospital. When the attendants said they had spoken to authorities at PGI, they were referred but the bed was not available again.”

The statement added, “They were then referred to the Vivekananda Hospital but unfortunately the patient died (before the shifting).”

“The patient was awaiting shifting as per the direction from the office of the chief medical officer. By the time the ambulance came, there was a cardiac arrest. We tried to revive him but unfortunately he died,” said Dr Virendra Yadav of the private hospital.

“The family was told to arrange treatment at a higher centre at the time of admission only,” said Dr Yadav.