Protests Erupt at Durgapur Hospital Following Patient’s Death, Allegations of Medical Negligence

News Highlights

• A private hospital in Durgapur faces protests after the death of a 28-year-old woman following childbirth.
• Family alleges medical negligence, claiming the bladder was cut during surgery.
• The patient’s relatives demand answers from hospital authorities and compensation.
• Police are yet to receive a formal complaint, and the hospital denies wrongdoing, citing medical complications post-surgery.

Tension flared at a private hospital in Durgapur after the death of a young mother, Ishrat Jahan (28), due to alleged medical negligence. The family claims that the hospital’s doctors performed a botched surgery during childbirth, leading to the tragic death of the woman. On Saturday night, angry family members gathered outside the hospital, accusing the doctors of cutting her bladder during the C-section delivery, which eventually caused her death. The incident triggered protests and sit-ins by the family in the hospital premises, demanding accountability and adequate compensation.

Ishrat Jahan, a resident of Benachity’s Masjid Mahalla, was admitted to the private hospital in Shovapur on September 20 for childbirth. The next day, she gave birth via a C-section. However, according to her family, the surgery went wrong. “The doctors accidentally cut her bladder during the procedure, but they did not inform us initially,” claimed Ishrat’s brother, Feroz Ali.

The family alleged that since the surgery, the hospital authorities had been evasive. “They gave various excuses, saying her kidneys were failing, or that her blood pressure and blood sugar were abnormally high,” Ali stated. The family believes these explanations were given to cover up the initial mistake. By Saturday evening, hospital officials informed the family of her death, which enraged her relatives and nearby residents, leading to protests outside the hospital.

Feroz further added, “My sister walked into the hospital on her own. She was healthy. After the surgery, her condition worsened, and her stomach began to swell. Now they claim her kidneys failed. The hospital admitted their mistake to us earlier, but they are now denying it.”

The incident attracted a crowd of family members and local residents who gathered to express their outrage. A police team arrived at the scene but faced resistance from the protesters. Although no formal complaint has been filed yet, Durgapur police stated they are ready to investigate once a complaint is lodged.

“We are awaiting a written complaint from the family. Once we receive it, we will initiate a formal investigation,” said a police official from Durgapur.

The hospital authorities, however, deny any negligence. They claimed that Ishrat’s condition deteriorated following childbirth due to underlying medical complications. “Despite our best efforts, we could not save her,” said a hospital spokesperson, refuting the allegations of a surgical error.

The tragedy comes amidst rising concerns over patient safety in hospitals across the state. This incident closely follows the R.G. Kar Medical College case, where tensions ran high after a patient’s death. Recently, a similar protest erupted at Sagar Dutta Medical College in Kamarhati, where angry relatives of a deceased patient attacked doctors and nurses, prompting junior doctors to go on strike due to concerns over safety.

As the situation unfolds in Durgapur, the family of Ishrat Jahan has vowed to continue their protests and pursue legal action. They demand that the hospital be held accountable for the loss of their loved one and call for financial compensation, especially considering Ishrat leaves behind two young children whose future now hangs in uncertainty.