Hospital initiates action against doctors after death of woman patient, but denies negligence

Kolhapur: A 72-year-old woman's death at Chhatrapati Pramila Raje Civil Hospital in Kolhapur on Monday morning sparked allegations of medical negligence. In response, the hospital administration removed the medical superintendent from the post and placed three doctors on leave pending further investigation.

The hospital authorities denied allegations of negligence and said the woman, Shakuntala Madhukar Pawar of Rajendranagar, was advised to get her blood sugar checked before undergoing a cataract operation. "While drawing her blood for the test, the woman suddenly collapsed and died. The relatives then created an uproar and even sat on protest, alleging medical negligence," a doctor said.

Hospital dean Satyawan More said, "The action was taken in response to demands of the woman's relatives. The post-mortem report states that the woman died of a heart attack. Her viscera samples have been preserved for further testing. The administrative action against the doctors is temporary, pending the test results.

"There is no foul play or medical negligence according to the primary investigation," the dean added.