Relatives fume as lady suffocates to death at Hospicio

Relatives fume as lady suffocates to death at Hospicio
Staff ignores patient to settle scores
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, APRIL 26   
Agitated over alleged negligence by the Hospicio staff resulting in the death of a 52-year old woman, relatives of the patient went on a rampage at the hospital, breaking window panes and demanding a thorough probe into the sordid episode.
Taken on the back foot, Hospicio Medical Superintendent Dr Ruando De Sa said he has ordered an inquiry into the episode, adding that the hospital administration will not spare anyone found guilty.
What angered the relatives and friends of deceased Dilshad Bi (52) was the fact that her death occurred for the delay in providing oxygen as two servants quarrelled with each other over the question who should administer oxygen to the patient.
“Two servants fought with each as to whose duty was it to put the patient on oxygen. The delay only worsened the condition of my mother and she finally breathed her last”, her sobbing son Zabir Ahmed told newsmen at Hospicio.
According to Ahmed, her mother was admitted to Hospicio on Sunday after she complained of respiratory problem. “She faced acute breathing problem today and doctors advised this afternoon that she be shifted to GMC Bambolim”, he said. “Despite suffering from respiratory problem, my mother was not given oxygen when she was brought from the female ward on a wheel chair. Worse still, even as she was gasping for breath, two servants who had accompanied her outside the hospital premises said it is not their job to put her on oxygen. For half an hour, my mother was kept outside without oxygen and ventilator. Someone was dying here and the servants were fighting over their duties. Even the nurse on duty asked the servants to put my mother on oxygen, but there were no takers”, he said.
As the news of Dilshad’s death spread, relatives rushed to the Hospital to question the authorities over the negligence by the hospital staff. The situation took a turn for the worse when one of the servants was called by the Medical Superintendent and the agitated relatives pointed their fingers at her as being the culprit. In the melee, someone from the crowd damaged the doors and broke the window panes, before the Margao police rushed to the hospital to avert any major law and order problem.
Margao Police incharge, PI Sidhant Shirodkar said the Margao police have not received any formal complaint either from the deceased relatives or the Hospicio hospital.
When contacted, Hospicio Medical Superintendent Dr De Sa said he is conducting an inquiry into the episode to ascertain the truth in the claim made by the deceased relatives. He disclosed plans to lodge a complaint with the Margao police, adding that his inquiry report would be forwarded to the health authorities for necessary action.