Bhubaneswar: The incident involving AC compressor blast at Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital here took an explosive twist due to discrepancies in the identity of the deceased and injured.
The injured, Dilip Samnatray of Khurdha, who was declared dead last week by the hospital authorities during treatment, was not Dilip. The body was handed over to the family members of Dilip through police. The family subsequently performed the last rites. The most shocking part of the entire incident is the wife of Dilip ended her life out of grief a day after the death of the man identified as Dilip.
Four days later, another injured man who was undergoing treatment in the name of Jyoti Ranjan today came out of the ICU and replied he is not Jyoti, but Dilip.
The family members of Jyoti who were earlier informed that Jyoti was alive and undergoing treatment in a critical condition, broke down completely after the man claimed himself as Dilip.
The hospital authorities, meanwhile, washed their hands of the incident. CEO Dr Smita Padhi said that patients suffering burns were not the staffers, but they were outsourced by an agency. As per the identity of the agency and their family members, treatment was provided.
“Since the patients had suffered 90 per cent burn injuries, it was not possible to identify them from their faces,” she said.
On the other hand, the family members of Jyoti Ranjan staged dharna on hospital premises demanding Jyoti, either dead or alive.
Jyoti’s inconsolable wife said “Till yesterday, I knew that my husband was under treatment. But now, they are saying that he is not Jyoti but Dilip. Where is my husband?, she asked.
Jyoti’s father said on the first day, he came to the hospital to see his son, but failed to identify him due to bandage on his face. “On that day, I called him, he gave a response with head movemnet. Today, he was out ventilator and I called him by his name, he replied that he is not Jyoti but Dilip,” Jyoti’s father said.
“Then I checked a mark on his leg which is not there. So, I am confirmed that he is not my son,” the elderly man said with teary eyes.
The Commissionerate police took the matter seriously. DCP Prateek Singh said that the entire matter will be investigated.
“We have to find out what kind of criminal negligence is involved in it. The family members have not reported any negligence in treatment. We will investigate the identification process undertaken by the individual or agency. Whether the family members were allowed to see and indentify the injured will also be investigated. If any criminal negligence will come out, action will be taken accordingly,” DCP said.
A senior officer will supervise the investigation process, he added.
Meanwhile, tension prevailed on the hospital premises after the family members and relatives of Jyoti Ranjan created ruckus and engaged in an argument with police demanding the whereabouts of Jyoti.
