Angry villagers staged a protest outside the SDM’s office in Arki on Friday, demanding registration of an FIR against those responsible for the death of a woman following a stone surgery at the Civil Hospital, Arki.
The protesters sought a fair and transparent inquiry into the incident, alleging medical negligence on the part of the doctors and hospital staff.
The villagers claimed that the family of Seema Sharma was informed about her death nearly one-and-a-half hours after her condition reportedly deteriorated during surgery. They alleged that doctors and hospital staff concealed her actual condition and that an ambulance was arranged by a doctor instead of the patient’s relatives, as is usually the case. They further alleged that the hospital hurriedly referred her to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla.
As the issue escalated into a major controversy, Solan Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Ajay Pathak and Director of Health Services Dr Gopal visited the Civil Hospital, Arki, and reviewed the circumstances surrounding the case.
Dr Mukta Rastogi, Block Medical Officer (BMO), Arki, said a committee headed by the BMO, Dharampur, had been constituted to investigate the matter and would submit its report within the next few days.
She clarified that the operating surgeon was assisted by two anaesthetists and an operation theatre assistant during the procedure. According to her, a complication developed during the surgery, following which doctors decided to refer the patient to IGMC-Shimla.
“The patient’s relatives had seen Seema at the time of referral. Her pulse was feeble and her blood pressure was low, but she was alive,” Dr Rastogi said.
Seema Sharma, a resident of Chunari village, died during the course of treatment. Villagers alleged that no senior official had yet reached out to the bereaved family and reiterated their demand for a fair probe and appropriate action against those found responsible.
