‘Hired doctor’ in emergency department for 500 taka, patient dies due to negligence!

A patient named Jamal Badshah (55) has died due to respiratory problems due to the absence of a doctor on duty in the emergency department of Kurigram General Hospital. It has been alleged that the MBBS doctor in charge of the emergency department, Kalipada Sarkar, was staying in his private chamber in Lalmonirhat by letting a DMF (Diploma in Medical Faculty) pass student sit in his private chamber for 500 taka. Jamal Badshah is a resident of Milpara area of Panchgachhi union in Kurigram Sadar upazila. His relatives said that he was taken to the emergency department of Kurigram General Hospital on Thursday (July 24) night when he started having breathing problems. Although he lay on the balcony for about an hour, no doctor or anyone concerned provided him with treatment. Later, a DMF pass student named Rubel came and responsibly checked on the patient and said that the patient had died. When the news of the patient’s death spread, his relatives went to the emergency department in anger and started looking for the doctor in charge. Then they came to know that the doctor in charge, Kalipada Sarkar, had replaced him with a DMF pass student named Rubel and had gone to the village. Later, seeing the situation deteriorating, the hospital’s acting RMO rushed to the emergency department. At that time, the RMO came to the hospital and called the doctor in charge and said that he was outside. By then, many journalists also arrived at the emergency department after receiving the news. According to hospital sources, on Thursday night, the hospital authorities gave the responsibility of the emergency department to an MBBS doctor named Kalipada Sarkar. But the doctor, without informing the hospital authorities, gave the responsibility to a DMF pass student in his place for 500 taka and went to his private chamber in Lalmonirhat. Ekramul Hasan, a relative of the deceased patient, said, “My uncle suddenly had breathing problems at night and I brought him to the hospital. Later, I waited for an hour in front of the emergency department but could not see the doctor. Later, a DMF doctor named Rubel came to see him and he died.” The death of the grandmother was due to medical negligence. And the government wishes that no one should die in such an inhumane death. Dr. Nazmul Islam, Acting Medical Officer (RMO) of Kurigram General Hospital, said that an unexpected incident occurred at the hospital on Thursday night. Legal action will be taken to find out why the doctor in charge left the hospital without informing the authorities. In addition, action will also be taken against anyone who was given responsibility in the emergency department in exchange for money. The mobile phone of the hospital’s superintendent Dr. Shahidullah Lincoln was contacted several times to find out about the matter, but contact was not possible.