14-yr-old kidney patient dies because hospital did not provide ambulance for 7 hours

The family of a 14-year-old girl from Kanchipuram, who died on her way to Rajiv Gandhi Hospital in Chennai on Sunday, alleged that the Kanchipuram Government Hospital didn’t provide them with an ambulance for 7 hours, by which time it was too late.

They have filed a police complaint with the D3 police station in Kanchipuram, stating negligence on behalf of the hospital.

For the last year, Sarika, a Class X student, was undergoing treatment for kidney failure at the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital in Chennai. “We could not afford to travel to Chennai regularly for her dialysis, so we decided to admit her in the Kanchipuram Government Hospital. She was being treated here for the past week,” said Nagaraj, Sarika’s uncle.

Sarika was admitted to the Intermediate Care Ward (IMC) at the Kanchipuram Government Hospital. “On Sunday, they shifted her to a general ward from the IMC … The doctors were not taking proper care of her. Around 12 noon, her condition started deteriorating and by 1pm, they referred her to Rajiv Gandhi Hospital in Chennai,” said Nagaraj.

The family claimed that when they contacted 108, they were told that the hospital would have to give them clearance first, only then could they provide an ambulance. They finally had to contact the District Collector for help. “When we called 108, they said they wouldn’t come as they had not got any information from the hospital. We were running from pillar to post just to get an ambulance, but no one responded, so we contacted the District Collector … The ambulance came by 7.15 pm finally,” said Nagaraj.

Sarika’s father, Anandan, works as a weaver. “Her mother was ready to donate her kidney. Sarika was doing well and there were no chances of her dying. It is all the fault of the hospital – they did not provide her with proper treatment,” said Nagaraj.

Speaking to TNM, Dr Vijayakumar, Joint Director of Health Services, countered allegations that no proper treatment was provided to Sarika. “We are conducting an inquiry, questioning all the doctors and 108 service providers … Only after that can we conclude something,” he said. When asked about the patient being shifted to the general ward, he refuted it saying that she was moved to the emergency ward, as the IMC was being cleaned, and not the general ward.