An on-duty nurse and three security personnel were allegedly assaulted at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) by relatives of a deceased patient early Tuesday morning. Following the incident, the nurse, 34-year-old Tejaswini Patil, was hospitalised, while the guards received first aid.
According to hospital staff, the incident took place between 5.00 am and 6.30 am when a mob, consisting of around 10 relatives of a deceased patient, entered Ward 41 and surrounded a nurse station. They alleged negligence in medical care, demanding to speak with a doctor. Subsequently, the mob started hurling abuses at the hospital staff, and two women from the mob allegedly began physically attacking the nurse.
King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital in Parel. FILE PIC
Following the incident, nurses staged a protest at the hospital’s dean`s office around 10.30 am, flagging security lapses and insufficient staff. They have also demanded a strict implementation of restricted pass-based entry for relatives of any patients being treated at the hospital.
Who was the patient?
A 19-year-old patient, suffering from Budd-Chiari syndrome, a serious liver disease, was hospitalised at KEMH for nearly a month before passing away. On Monday late evening, the hospital staff had informed the immediate family members that the patient`s condition was serious.
“We informed them and took their signatures on the consent form for acknowledgement,” stated a hospital staffer. However, in the wee hours of Tuesday, the patient`s condition deteriorated, and a doctor confirmed the death post-ECG around 2 am.
‘Security is irresponsible’
A hospital staffer requesting anonymity said that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Security Force (BMSF) personnel do not take their duty seriously; they have delegated most duties to the Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) and remain laid-back throughout the day.
Another staffer said that the incident went on for over an hour, and still the security forces, including hospital guards and police, could not respond with enough force.
“The dean has assured necessary action, and we have been told that a police complaint has been made, but if authorities do not register an FIR and arrest the assaulters by Thursday, all 900 nurses will stop working,” said a senior nurse requesting anonymity.
What is Budd-Chiari Syndrome?
Budd-Chiari syndrome is a rare liver disorder caused by blockage or narrowing of the hepatic veins, which drain blood from the liver. It is often caused due to blood clots or vein wall issues. This obstruction leads to blood backup, causing liver congestion and potential damage. Symptoms commonly include abdominal pain, ascites (fluid accumulation), and hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), with treatment focusing on blood thinners, angioplasty, shunts, or liver transplant.
Official Speak
Sangeeta Rawat, Dean at KEMH,
Rawat denied mid-day’s request for CCTV footage of the incident. “The footage will be shared with the police,” she added.
A BMSF officer
“We are only 70 personnel for the 24×7 security of this hospital. 90 positions remain vacant, and we are often asked to attend to other bandobast [security arrangements] outside hospital as well.”
