The Hindu : National : Patient stopped by PM’s guards dies

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Wednesday, Nov 04, 2009
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Patient stopped by PM’s guards dies

Rajesh Ahuja

CHANDIGARH: A kidney patient from Ambala, identified as Subhash Verma, died while on his way to the PGI here on Tuesday as he was reportedly stopped by security personnel in view of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the premier medical institute.

According to reports, the patient, in his thirties, who was on dialysis, was not allowed to enter the emergency department and he had to wait for nearly one and a half hours. He died after heart attack. The Bhargava Auditorium, where the Prime Minister was addressing the PGI’s Convocation, is located near the emergency department and the main gate had been virtually sealed off by the security personnel.

Dr. Singh has expressed grief over the death of the patient and is understood to have sought a full report from the authorities.

A spokeswoman of the PGI said Subhash Verma was brought dead by his attendants to the PGI Emergency Medical OPD at about noon. He had a history of end stage kidney disease. He had been on maintenance haemodialysis in a private hospital. On Tuesday he was taken to a private hospital in Chandigarh for hemodialylsis, following which his condition deteriorated. He was rushed to the PGI emergency where he was “declared brought dead.”

The spokeswoman claimed that there were no “restrictions” and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 40 new patients were examined in the Emergency Medical OPD. She said all medical facilities in the PGI were functioning normally during the visit of the Prime Minister.

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