Lucknow: Deoria police on Friday registered a case against a surgeon, manager of a private hospital and five unidentified staff members after a woman died during a gallbladder-related surgery.
The accused have been identified as Dr PN Kushwaha (surgeon), Santosh Chauhan (hospital manager) and five other staffers. They have been booked under the charges of IPC’s section 304A (causing the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act) along with other charges of rioting and punishment for voluntarily causing hurt. They are all absconding.
According to the complaint, Rinki Devi (35) was undergoing surgery for removal of stones in gallbladder when she died on the operation table on November 28, the police said.
The accused, according to the FIR, later threatened the family when the latter questioned them about the circumstances under which Rinki died. A post-mortem examination was conducted, but the cause of death could not be determined, and the viscera was preserved.
Deoria superintendent of police Sankalp Sharma said that they received a complaint from the victim’s sister-in-law, Kanti Devi, alleging that Rinki was admitted to a private hospital in Badhauchghat area on November 28.
“The next day, when we went to meet her at the hospital, the staff informed us that Rinki was unconscious and needed to be transferred to another hospital. Without allowing us to see her, the doctor referred her to another hospital. We enquired about her whereabouts from the doctor and staff, but they refused to answer and even manhandled us when we insisted on seeing Rinki and not allowing her transfer. They then put her in an ambulance and drove away,” Kanti alleged in her complaint to the police.
The ambulance transported Rinki to another private hospital, where doctors declared her dead. After informing the police, an autopsy was performed, Kanti further said. “Despite this, the police initially refused to register an FIR. We then met the Deoria SP, the FIR was finally lodged,” she added.
The SP confirmed that CCTV footage from the hospital is being reviewed, and teams have been formed to apprehend the accused. Additionally, a letter has been sent to the Chief Medical Officer requesting verification of the hospital’s and doctor’s credentials.
