Family sues Nepal Mediciti hospital for NPR 50 million over patient's death
Kathmandu, October 22 — Following the death of a patient due to alleged medical negligence while hospitalized, the family has filed a lawsuit seeking compensation of NPR 50 million in the Lalitpur District Court.
The family claims that the patient, Gyan Prasad Rimal from Bansbari, Kathmandu, died at Mediciti Hospital as a result of incorrect medication and treatment administered by the doctors.
Rimal, who was residing in the United States, was admitted to Medciti Hospital in Lalitpur for heart treatment and kidney dialysis. After suffering from an infection in his hand, the family filed the lawsuit seeking damages.
Rimal was admitted to the hospital on September 17. According to the family, he initially underwent an ECG for heart issues. Following an evening examination that revealed a blockage, he was scheduled for an angiogram the next morning.
On September 18, a team led by Dr. Ranjit Kumar Sharma successfully completed the angiogram and informed the family that he had been moved to the ICU by 1 PM. Family members were reportedly allowed to visit him at that time.
Later that evening, the family was told that they need not stay overnight as the hospital would inform them if necessary, prompting them to return home. However, on the morning of September 19, when the family inquired about his condition, they were informed that he was stable, but his hand had become numb and discolored.
According to the family, at around 9 PM that same day, blisters began to appear on the patient's hand. After not receiving any updates throughout the night, the family arrived at the hospital the next morning to learn that the patient had developed an allergy to tape and was bleeding, but the hospital had concealed the severity of the situation.
After the angioplasty, the patient was placed in the ICU, where by 5 PM his hand was reportedly numb and blistered. Dr. Kishor had written a note to loosen the tape binding his hand, but the hospital failed to act on this, as noted in the lawsuit.
Despite the patient expressing discomfort, the staff did not respond adequately, administering fentanyl at 10 PM instead. The lawsuit claims that this led to an overdose, with the patient receiving the same medication multiple times without proper monitoring.
The lawsuit also alleges that at 1:30 AM, 2:10 AM, 6:10 AM, and 6:30 AM, only fentanyl was administered without consulting other specialists, indicating negligence regarding the patient’s health, which resulted in damage to his hand.
When no other treatment options remained, the hand was operated on, but excessive bleeding post-surgery led to the patient's death, according to the family. The report stated that the patient's death was attributed to the visible blisters on his hand, and the hospital provided the body without charging the family after their negligence resulted in death, attempting to cover up the incident.
The lawsuit states, "The patient died on September 20 due to medical negligence. Despite the patient crying out for help throughout the night, there was no treatment for the hand, and excessive fentanyl was administered." It continues, "Due to the failure to provide urgent care, the patient died. Before dying, the patient stated, 'I am dying because of the doctors. They did not attend to me all night and gave me a high dose of medication, which is why my hand is in this condition.' The hospital responded with threats."
During the first hearing, District Judge Ritakumar Bakhrel granted a partial waiver of court fees, allowing the family to submit NPR 258,250 later. The court will now seek a response from the hospital, and a hearing will be scheduled upon receipt of that response.
Rimal's daughter, Jyoti Rimal, a physician herself, indicated that the hospital's negligence in treatment had been revealed. Dr. Jyoti, who resides in the United States, questioned the use of hydrogels for pain management and uncovered details of the improper treatment.
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