Hospital vandalised over schoolboy’s death

Relatives of a dead patient vandalised the emergency department of 250-bed Patuakhali General Hospital on Monday night on allegation of doctor’s negligence.

The dead was Fardeen Khan Ovi, a Class X student of Government Jubilee High School in the district town, and son of Anwar Hossain of Katpattee area in the town.

The deceased’s mother Mamotaj Begum said Ovi was rushed to the emergency department at the hospital after he took poison at home.

“When we came to the hospital, on-duty doctor referred Ovi to Barishal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital. As his condition was critical, we requested the doctor to give him primary treatment but he did not do this,” said Mamotaj.

As his condition worsened, they sent him to the medicine ward where nurses asked them to take some medicine from outside of the hospital, she said.

“When we brought medicine, doctor declared my son dead. My son died because of lack of treatment,” said Mamtoj.

As the death news spread, relatives became angry and ransacked chair, door, table and windowpane of the emergency department.

On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Md Anwar Ullah, on-duty doctor of the emergency department, said as condition of the patient was critical, he was referred to Barishal for better treatment.

“When relatives of the patient raised objection, I sent him to the medicine ward by providing some primary treatment,” he said.

Md Mahfuzur Rahman, additional superintendent of police, said police have been deployed on the hospital premises to avert any further trouble.

Dr Ziaul Haque, acting superintendent of the hospital, said there was no negligence in the patient’s treatment