(From top) Dr Manas Sahu shows X-ray report confirming stone in Bandana Kar’s pancreas, the hospital’s department of surgery, and Family members of deceased Pradeep Kumar Jena mourn at the neurosurgery department on Friday morning. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Nov. 18: Tension gripped SCB Medical College and Hospital here today following the death of a person because of alleged negligence by doctors of the neurosurgery department.

The deceased, Pradeep Kumar Jena, 32, was the husband of Rashmita Jena, who works as a nurse at SCB’s surgery department.

“We repeatedly requested the doctor on-duty last night to come and see the patient after his condition deteriorated. But nobody listened to us,” said Bikram Keshari Singh, brother-in-law of the deceased.

Pradeep’s family members said he had sustained severe injuries to his chest and head following a road accident in Balasore two days ago and was rushed to a local hospital in a police vehicle. After initial treatment in Balasore, Pradeep was brought to SCB around 7am yesterday.

The doctors at SCB admitted him to the neurosurgery department around 1.45 in the afternoon. However, nobody allegedly attended to Pradeep, whose condition deteriorated at midnight. He died around 6.45am today.

“The doctor on-duty refused to attend to the patient who suddenly started to bleed from nose. Also, there was no oxygen cylinders at the ward,” said Niranjan Pradhan, a relative.

All staff nurses of SCB met the hospital superintendent today and submitted a memorandum demanding a detailed investigation into the incident. “Our colleague had brought her husband to SCB with a hope of getting better treatment. However, no doctor was present here last night. A doctor on-duty spoke over telephone and asked us to administer an injection to the patient,” said Lopamudra Rath, a staff nurse.

Rath said other nurses had also gone to call the doctor from his cabin but he did not bother to come. Later, the doctor came for an emergency surgery.

“We condemn the way our staff nurse was treated. We have submitted a memorandum to the superintendent requesting her to initiate action,” said Srimati Sahoo, general secretary of Odisha Nursing Employees’ Association.

The SCB authorities, however, have maintained that there was no negligence in treatment and that the patient had come in a critical condition.

“The patient had sustained severe multiple injuries and had come in a critical condition. All kinds of treatment were provided to him. Yet, he died this morning,” said SCB’s assistant professor Srikant Das.

“We will discuss the nurses’ grievance with the head of the neurosurgery department and steps will be taken accordingly,” said SCB superintendent D.N. Moharana.