Ruckus at NEIGRIHMS hospital in Shillong after a youth dies; deceased’s family alleges lack of doctors at hospital

The deceased’s friends and relatives alleged that no doctors were present at the emergency unit for hours, due to which the patient succumbed to his injuries

A ruckus broke out in the emergency unit of the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) hospital in Shillong on Sunday after a youth succumbed to his injuries over allegations of apathy by doctors.

The deceased’s friends and relatives alleged that no doctors were available at the hospital today being the weekend, due to which the patient succumbed to his injuries.

Immediately, a Special Operation Team of police was called by the NEIGRIHMS authorities, and the situation was brought under control.

The deceased suffered injuries after the scooter in which he was traveling collided with a SUV.

Dr. S. Vijay Singh, HOD of Dentistry, NEIGHRIMS, told Northeast Live that the accident happened at around 11 am, but the patient was brought in at 12.20 pm, adding that all protocols were followed, but the patient succumbed to his injuries at around 2.30 pm.

“We had tried all the possible protocols we had followed basically to treat the patient but at around 2.30 the patient had expired. The patient was stable, the BP was around 94, so we thought that we should get the ultra sound done because we had seen some injuries that were there, and he had a fracture probably in the leg, so that we can analyse what has actually happened. But after the ultrasound the patient suddenly collapsed. It was at that point when the mob got a bit agitated,” the doctor said.

Responding to the number of doctors present at the hospital, the doctor said that there were as many as 7 JRD and 3 CMO, apart from the specialists that are on call.

Dr. Singh said that the doctors rushed in after getting a call about the emergency.

Responding to allegations from the victim’s family that no senior doctors were present at the emergency unit, Dr. Singh said, “It’s not like that. We had the CMO, Dr. Mohim, and the JRs were also there. When the investigation was carried out, we had called all the senior doctors to come around so that by the time the investigation was over, we knew what we had to do, but unfortunately, it was immediately after the investigation that the patient collapsed.”

An autopsy will be done tomorrow morning, the doctor informed.

Also Read: Meghalaya: Massive protest in Shillong seeking justice for victims of Manipur violence

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