Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, June 23: Members of the ABVP organisation and students staged a protest near the City hospital, Udupi demanding justice for Nikitha (20), a second year diploma student who was admitted into the City Hospital and passed away on Sunday, June 18.

The protesters alleged that negligence on the part of the hospital management led to the death of Nikitha’s. They also demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lacs to the members of the deceased family by the  hospital management. Protesters also decided to submit a memorandum to DHO and DC demanding a detailed investigation.

The doctor who treated Nikitha arrived at the spot and  clarified the facts related to the line of the treatment given to Nikita and said, “Nikitha came to us with vomiting, abdominal pain and was unable to pass stools. An ultrasound scan was conducted and later a CT scan and a GI endoscopy was also carried out  which showed the features of GERD with Hiatus Hernia. But, the reason for continuous vomiting and constipation was not shown. So, a diagnostic laparoscopy was done with her parents' consent to rectify the cause. The operation process was recorded as a routine procedure. After completion of the surgery, she showed poor respiratory effects and was shifted to ICU, showing symptoms of pulmonary edema. She showed improvement when she was treated by experts and given ventilation support which was  explained to her parents. But later in the early morning she developed cardio-respiratory arrest and could not be revived. As we could not find the exact cause for the sudden onset of pulmonary edema we insisted her parents to permit us to conduct a post-mortem examination but they refused and took her body away.”

The management of City Hospital have expressed their sorrow and condolences over the death of Nikitha and said in spite of best medical efforts by the team of doctors and staff she could not be saved.