A Dhaka court has ordered an investigation into allegations of murder by negligence against the director of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) and Hospital, Professor Dr Abdul Wadud Chowdhury, and 10 others over the death of a patient while under treatment.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ismail gave the order on Thursday after the case was filed by the deceased’s son, Abu Huraira, over the death of Jinnat Ali.
In the morning, the complainant submitted the case application before the court, which recorded his statement and kept the order pending. Later in the afternoon, the court took cognizance of the case and directed the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station to investigate and submit a report by June 16.
The other accused include Hridoy General Hospital Executive Director Dr SMF Nirob Hossain, Dr Sirajul, ward boy Shahid, Ashik, Samiul, Moshier Rahman Lavlu, and the manager and assistant manager of Hridoy General Hospital, Junaed.
According to the complaint, the victim was initially taken to Manikganj General Hospital after falling ill and was later referred to NICVD in Dhaka. He was admitted to the CCU of NICVD on February 26.
The complaint states that a ward boy, Shahid, took the patient to the emergency unit and after tests told the family that the patient had no heart-related issues and that the problem was “in the brain.” He allegedly advised transferring the patient to an ICU, claiming NICVD did not have ICU facilities and that no ICU bed was available in any hospital in Dhaka at the time, while suggesting admission to Hridoy General Hospital.
The complainant alleged that the family was persuaded to shift the patient there with the promise of treatment for two days before returning to NICVD. He further alleged that the accused demanded excessive payment beyond the treatment bill and refused to release the patient unless money was paid. When he protested, he was allegedly detained and beaten, and the patient’s treatment was stopped.
He later paid the money after borrowing, according to the complaint.
The patient was subsequently re-admitted to the CCU of NICVD, where on-duty doctors and nurses reportedly said he had not received proper treatment. He died at 3:20pm the same day.
The complaint also alleges that on February 28, when the complainant went to lodge complaints at NICVD, he was assaulted and forced out of the hospital premises.
