A 65-year-old grocer suffering from respiratory complications and suspected Covid-19 symptoms died unattended in front of the main entrance to Bongaon state general hospital on Saturday night.
Madhab Narayan Dutta had been admitted to the isolation ward of the hospital on Saturday afternoon and was scheduled to be shifted to a Covid care unit in Calcutta because of his symptoms.
But the patient was allegedly shunned by the staff and was left to climb onto the waiting ambulance by himself.
His Covid-19 test report is awaited.
Dutta fell unconscious and died by the stationary ambulance. His wife Alpana had pleaded with bystanders for help.
“The ambulance driver was equally indifferent. They all watched my husband die in front of their eyes,” said a distraught Alpana on Sunday.
Sources said Dutta remained unattended for about two hours from 8pm until former Trinamul MLA Gopal Seth reportedly asked hospital authorities to examine the patient immediately.
A doctor of the hospital eventually examined Dutta at 10.30pm and declared him dead.
The incident unleashed a shock wave among the residents of Bongaon town, prompting hospital authorities to order a suo moto probe over alleged negligence on the part of the persons concerned.
“I appealed to everyone to help me take my husband to the ambulance. But we were left to walk up to it and climb on our own. They refused fearing he had Covid. Since it was getting late and my husband was suffering from respiratory troubles, I decided to take him in my arms,” said Alpana.
“I asked the hospital authorities to check on him, but nobody bothered to come until more than an hour passed, only to declare him dead,” she added.
Hospital superintendent Sankar Prasad Mahato said: “This is quite an unfortunate incident. We have transferred many patients to Covid hospital, but never has anybody refused help to a patient family. There must be a lapse on someone’s part. We will find out the responsible person.”
Hospital sources said no ward boys could be deputed owing to a commonly voiced “fear of Covid patients”.
