Relatives of 'dead' patient go berserk at hospital

The relatives and friends of a patient admitted to the BGS Global Hospital created ruckus on the hospital premises, on Wednesday, alleging that the doctors had wrongly pronounced the patient dead.

Several persons, including eight policemen, sustained injuries in the incident. The SI of Kengeri police station too has suffered injuries after the group involved in the ruckus threw stones at the police and hospital property. 

According to the police, Ponnuswamy (24), a resident of Nayandahalli, allegedly tried to commit suicide by hanging at his residence on Tuesday night. Ponnuswamy was brought to the BGS Hospital in the wee hours of Wednesday. He was soon taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as his condition was critical. 

Accusing the doctors of not attending to the patient properly, the family members and the relatives refused to pay the bills, saying that the treatment charges were exorbitant. The relatives of the patient demanded the hospital management to reimburse the money paid at the time of admission. 

Verbal duel

Soon, the relatives of Ponnuswamy engaged the hospital staff in a heated exchange. In the ensuing altercation, the relatives of the patient allegedly assaulted the hospital staff. 

The group forced its way into the ICU and vandalised equipment before damaging window panes. 

The Kengeri police rushed to the spot and resorted to mild caning. Several relatives of the patient, including the father of the patient Mahadev Shetty, were injured in the caning.

“Ponnuswamy’s condition was critical. The relatives of the patient were not in the mood to listen to our doctors’ advise. They wanted us to discharge the patient. When the patient was being taken out of the hospital, the relatives went berserk. They were drunk and assaulted the hospital staff. They didn’t even spare other patients admitted in the hospital,” Dr N K Venkataramana, vice president of the BGS Global Hospital, stated in a press release. Dr Ramesh has lodged a complaint in the Kengeri police station.  

The police have detained 12 people on the charges of trespassing, assault, conspiracy and damaging property.