MUMBAI: There was a delay of around 40 minutes in giving treatment to victims of the World cylinder blast last month at the BMC-run Nair Hospital. An interim report submitted to the BMC revealed that while the four burns victims were brought to the hospital at around 6:11 am, actual treatment only began at 6:42 am for two of them and 6:52 am for another.
The report was submitted to the BMC administration recently and was tabled before the civic standing committee .
"The interim findings of the probe are shocking. The fact that timely treatment was not provided at a top civic hospital in the heart of the city reflects the poor state of health services of the BMC. Ad hoc termination and suspension will not help. The BMC must come out with a strong standard operating procedure for treatment of burns and accident victims. Stern action must be taken against those responsible for the delay, including seniors in the hospital’s administration.-Timesview"
The BMC has terminated the service of Dr Shashank Jha and suspended nurse Preeti Surve over the delay pending a detailed enquiry.
On November 30, a gas cylinder exploded at around 7:10 am at BDD Chawl in Worli. Four persons, including an infant, were injured.
While the infant Mangesh Puri (5 months old) and the child's father Anand Puri (27) died on the day of the incident, the third death -- of the child's mother -- was reported on December 6. Vidya Puri (25) was declared dead at the BMC-run Kasturba Hospital. Now only one member of the family, five-year-old Vishnu Puri, survives. He suffered 15-20% burns.
The probe report said treatment for Mangesh and Anand started only at 6:42 am and at 6:52 am for Vidya. "The victims were brought to the hospital at 6:11 am and doctors were informed about the case. The doctors were carrying out paperwork. Immediate first-aid treatment should have begun, which was not done.
The CCTV footage of the hospital was examined after a viral video of the patients was circulated. The interim report is based on the records and CCTV footage. It is expected that instead of waiting for expert doctors, in case of such severe burns, immediate treatment is started. This was not done by Dr Shashank Jha and nurse Preeti Surve. They instead called the expert doctors and were making medico-legal papers. Initially only painkillers were given, but no required burns treatment was given," the report stated.
The BJP had alleged lack of timely treatment had led to the deaths. The BMC then took action against Dr Jha and nurse Surve following allegations of negligence. The action came after a video clip showing the four burns victims not being attended to at the Mumbai Central hospital went viral.
AMC Suresh Kakani had announced formation of a probe panel led by JJ's former dean Dr. Ajay Chandanwale, who is joint director, DMER.
