Kolkata Patient Forced to Walk to Toilet at RG Kar: A patient at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal, died not due to a failure of treatment, but the absence of an accessible toilet. Biswajit Samanta was admitted to the hospital’s trauma unit after complaining of breathing difficulties and a nosebleed. He received initial treatment but was directed to walk all the way to the first floor to use a pay-and-use toilet. He collapsed before he could reach it and was declared dead. Hospital staff later admitted that the toilet in the trauma unit was under renovation and that they were “planning” to make alternative arrangements. The incident comes just three days after another death at RG Kar, this one caused by a malfunctioning elevator.
After his initial treatment, doctors asked Samanta, a resident of Nimta, to wait for further admission procedures. When he felt the urge to urinate, he found the trauma unit toilet locked. Although two other toilets, reserved for doctors and staff, were operational, he was directed to use the one on the first floor, despite his critical condition, reported news agency PTI.
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His son alleged that despite repeated requests, no trolley or wheelchair was provided, forcing the patient to walk unassisted.
Serious Lapses
While police have filed a case of unnatural death, Trinamool Congress MLA Atin Ghosh termed it a “serious lapse” in the handling of a critical patient. Also a member of the hospital’s Rogi Kalyan Samity (patient welfare committee), Ghosh said he would approach the hospital principal seeking a report on the incident and measures to prevent such occurrences in the future. He added that a high-risk patient should never have been asked to leave the trauma care centre in search of a toilet, and that if public facilities were unavailable due to renovation, the patient should have been permitted to use the toilets reserved for doctors and nurses.
Hospital’s Future Planning
Medical Superintendent and Vice Principal (MSVP) Saptarshi Chatterjee confirmed that the only patient toilet in the emergency area is currently under renovation owing to heavy patient footfall. “There is no provision for bio-toilets, but we are trying to implement it to overcome the problem. We are trying to improve the arrangements for doctors, staff, and patients. If possible, we will make further arrangements,” he said.
Elevator Death
A 40-year-old man died after being trapped inside a lift at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on March 20. Five people have been arrested in connection with his death.
(With PTI Inputs)
