Patient dies after kin unplug ventilator to connect cooler
Rajiv Saxena TNN
Kota: 20.06.2020
A 40-year-old man being treated for acute respiratory distress at a government hospital in Rajasthan's Kota died after one of his family members allegedly disconnected power supply to the ventilator to plug in an air cooler.
Dr Navin Saxena, superintendent of MBS Hospital, said the tragedy occurred last Monday in the isolation ward, to which the deceased had been shifted after a fellow patient in the ICU tested positive for Covid-19.
"On June 15 evening, the man's family brought an air cooler for his comfort but apparently did not find an electric socket to plug in the machine. Someone among them possibly unplugged the ventilator to use the cooler," Saxena said.
Since the ventilator continued running on battery backup for around half an hour, nobody noticed the fatal mistake until it was too late.
"It was only when the condition of the patient started deteriorating that a member of the hospital staff noticed it and called a doctor. He couldn't be revived despite CPR," an official said.
A Covid-19 test on the deceased came out negative.
MBS Hospital has since constituted a three-member committee to probe the death. The report is expected on Saturday.
"Sheer carelessness, be it on the part of the man's family or the medical staff, caused his death. Appropriate action will be taken against those responsible, based on the probe report," the superintendent said.
The isolation ward at MBS Hospital has a resident doctor and a support staff of four to five on duty at all times. The family of the deceased allegedly did not bother seeking permission to plug in the cooler.
The patient’s family brought an air cooler for his comfort but apparently did not find an electric socket to plug in the machine. Someone among them possibly unplugged the ventilator to use the cooler, said Dr Navin Saxena of MBS Hospital
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