Taking a serious note of the allegations levelled by a deceased COVID 19 patient’s family regarding over-charging for treatment by a private hospital and denial to cadaver of the patient without clearance of bills, Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan has marked an enquiry into the same.A three member committee of the local SDM, DSP and SMO has been constituted to probe the matter and have been asked to submit a written report within 24 hours.As per the preliminary report, Paramjit Singh suffering from severe pneumonia because of Covid 19 was admitted into Lifeline Hospital, Zirakpur on April 26, 2021 and was under treatment. On May 10, the patient’s family took LAMA ( left against medical advice ) from Lifeline hospital to transfer patient to Mukut hospital sector 34 Chandigarh. The Mukut Hospital ambulance couldn’t manage to take the patient as in the process of shifting the patient’s condition deteriorated and he could not be transferred; whereby, under the urgency of the situation the patient was retained in the same hospital and he died on May 14.At the death of the patient, his attendant had heated argument with the hospital staff which led to scuffle in which LED TV of the hospital was broken. They raised hue and cry over not getting proper care and levelled allegation regarding exorbitant bill raised by the hospital authorities.
They alleged that hospital refused to give the patient’s body, unless the bill was settled.While the hospital claims that no substandard treatment was meted to the patient. Patient was in critical condition and unfortunately passed away. In fact, they issued LAMA to the family at their behest and readmitted patient when patient’s admission to the other hospital did not materialize. The bills they claim are as per GoP norms; The 19 day stay on ventilator on capped rates while 3+ lakhs was charged for the room.The local SHO rushed to the spot on receiving complaint of commotion in the hospital . He took stock of situation and controlled flaring up of the incident. The body was handed over to the patient’s family and was cremated on the same day (14/5/21) without any delay.In the meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner said, “Fleecing in my jurisdiction will not go without consequences; it is not just a crime but morally and ethically unacceptable”. He also issued a word of caution that no hospital should wrongfully confine any patient, or dead body of a patient, treated in the hospital under any circumstance. If a Hospital denies giving the body before settlement of bills, it is illegal and action shall be taken, he asserted.He informed that bills raised by the hospital are being examined by Civil Surgeon to check if the per rates are as prescribed by GoP.