CPI cadres stage dharna over death of patient in GGH

Puducherry, Sep 6 (UNI) Tension prevailed at the Government General Hospital (GGH) here as cadres of the Communist Party of India staged a dharna inside the hospital campus and later outside the hospital to protest against the death of a patient today.

Led by party state secretary Na Ra Kalainthan, the protesters were demanding action against the doctor, who attended on the patient in an "irresponsible" manner.

Police assured the agitators that a case would be registered under section 304(A) of the IPC, following which they called off their agitation.

Later, talking to reporters, Kalainathan said Selvadurai, a construction worker and residing at Kottuppalayam in Reddiyarpalayam constituency was admitted to the GGH following kidney failure.

He said doctors had fixed to perform a kidney transplantation on him on August seven as his sister Muthulakshmi came forward to donate one of her kidneys and preparation for the operations were done.

However, a visiting Nephrologist Dr Murugesan recommended for postponing the operation, the CPI leader said adding that the doctor had stated that as the kidneys were functioning 15 to 20 per cent, there was no need for an immediate surgery.

Selvadurai, who was under dialysis was discharged from the hospital three days back and readmitted yesterday as he developed complications at his house and died early this morning, Mr Kalainathan said and alleged that the patient died only due to the "irresponsible" attitude of the doctor.

''We will conduct a post-mortem on the body of Selvadurai to find out the exact cause of death and only after that the body will be creamated,''Kalainathan said and demanded a solatium of Rs ten lakh to the family and a government job to his wife Sumathi.

UNI