Panipat: Patient Admitted For Leg Fracture Dies After Unauthorised Heart Stent Procedure; FIR Filed Against Private Hospital

Based on the family's complaint, the Sector-29 Police Station, Panipat, has registered an FIR against the doctors and the hospital under Sections 106 (causing death by negligence), 318(4) (cheating) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The police have initiated an investigation into the allegations.

The deceased, Guddi Devi, a resident of Ramesh Nagar in Panipat and originally from Kanpur Dehat in Uttar Pradesh, was admitted to Park Hospital on GT Road on July 24 after suffering a leg fracture in a road accident.

According to the complaint lodged by her son, Kuldeep, the family had admitted Guddi Devi solely for orthopaedic treatment. However, on the following day, they were allegedly informed that doctors had performed a cardiac procedure and implanted a heart stent without informing or obtaining consent from the family.

The complainant alleged that neither he nor other family members were told that Guddi Devi required any cardiac intervention before the procedure was carried out.

The family has further alleged that the hospital forged their signatures on the consent form required for the angioplasty procedure. According to the complaint, Guddi Devi's husband and son are illiterate and ordinarily use thumb impressions rather than signatures.

Kuldeep alleged that after the stent procedure, his mother was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where she later died during treatment.

The family has accused the hospital of medical negligence, cheating and performing an unnecessary medical procedure, alleging that the intervention directly resulted in Guddi Devi's death.

They have also alleged that when they questioned the hospital authorities after her death, they were intimidated instead of being provided an explanation regarding the treatment administered.

The complainant further alleged that the hospital carried out the procedure to claim higher reimbursement under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, contending that the stent implantation was unnecessary. These allegations are part of the complaint and are presently under police investigation.

Following the incident, Guddi Devi's body was sent for a post-mortem examination, which was conducted by a medical board. Initially refusing to accept the body, the family later took possession of it after police assured them that appropriate legal action would be taken.

The Station House Officer (SHO), Sector-29 Police Station, confirmed that an FIR has been registered against the doctors and the hospital based on the complaint. He stated that the doctor's name has not yet been specifically mentioned in the FIR and that further action would be taken after the post-mortem report and completion of the investigation.

Responding to the allegations, Park Hospital CEO Sapna Bhambri denied any wrongdoing.

According to the hospital, Guddi Devi underwent a pre-operative fitness assessment before surgery for her fractured leg, during which doctors allegedly discovered two severely blocked coronary arteries. The hospital maintained that an angiography was conducted and stents were implanted only after obtaining the family's consent.

The hospital further stated that Guddi Devi later suffered a cardiac arrest in the ICU and died despite treatment.

Rejecting the family's allegations, the hospital contended that the consent form was executed at the family's request and denied accusations of medical negligence or financial misconduct.

The allegations made by the deceased's family have not been independently verified. The police investigation is ongoing, and the post-mortem report is expected to play a crucial role in determining the cause of death and the course of further legal proceedings.