Following the death of a patient at Hizla Upazila Health Complex in the district yesterday, the family members raised allegations of delayed treatment and severely injured one doctor by physically assaulting him.
The victim Dr Shuvangkar Baroi, Hizla upazila is a health and family planning officer, who was severely injuried on his eyes and face. He was sent to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in critical condition, said Dr. Herambo Ray, another doctor from the hospital.
OC of Hizla police station Shawkat Anwar said Isharul Shikdar Druba, 13, son of Dulal Shikdar from Guabaria village, was brought to the hospital with high fever around 9:15am and the on-duty doctors advised the family to buy some medicine.
However, Druba died within few minutes of being brought to the hospital before any treatment could be provided, the OC said quoting the injured doctor.
Afterwards, Druba’s elder brother Yunus Shikdar and cousin Alamin Mridha physically assaulted Shuvangkar mercilessly, alleging delayed treatment.
On being informed, police rushed to the scene and arrested the attackers.
Contacted, Dr Shuvankar said the patient died before starting any treatment as died from a cardiac arrest as a result of his acute heat stroke.
Denying the doctor’s claim, the patient’s family alleged that “After bringing Druba to the hospital, the doctors asked to collect medicine available outside the hospital premises without providing him with immediate medical care. This delay in medical attention cost him precious time.”
“Around 10:20am, the doctors declared him dead which infuriated us. If he was given treatment on time, his death could have been avoided,” Druba’s family members continued.
Later, Dr Shuvankar filed a case against the attackers. The police were deployed on the hospital premises because of this tense situation.