'Negligence' costs patient's life

A doctor's alleged negligence has resulted in the death of a 58-year-old patient.

Following his death, angry relatives of the victim went on a rampage at Panchagarh Sadar Hospital on Monday.

The deceased was identified as Abdus Sattar of Islambag in Panchagarh municipality.

Sattar was brought to the hospital in the evening after he complained of severe chest pain, said his son Anwar Hossain.

Considering his worsening condition, staff of emergency department made a phone call to only cardiologist of the hospital Dr Mosharraf Hossain.

But the doctor asked the staff to bring him to Northern Diagnostic Centre in the town where he saw patients but the patient's attendants did not agree to take him there.

After half an hour, the doctor came to the hospital as a local public representative called him.

The patient died before the doctor reached the hospital, which angered his relatives. Later, local people including relatives of the deceased vandalised doors and windowpanes of the hospital.

Contacted, Dr Mosharraf admitted that he had asked the relatives of the patients to take him to a nearby diagnostic center.

As they refused to come to the diagnostic centre, the patient died, he said. 

Civil Surgeon Dr Pitambar Roy said a hospital's doctor can be called to visit patient in an emergency.

“We are looking into the matter,” he said.