In a distressing turn of events, the family of 17-year-old Faisal faced a harrowing ordeal at a hospital in the Kashmir valley.
Arriving at the SMHS hospital at approximately 11:30 A.M on Saturday, the family from Soiteng Srinagar said that they endured a prolonged wait as hospital staff conducted tests for nearly three hours.
“Despite the mandatory procedures, the family was left in the dark regarding Faisal’s condition until he was taken into the operating theater at 1:15 AM,” said a family member.
“Inside the theater, medical staff revealed that Faisal suffered from internal intestinal obstruction, necessitating urgent surgery, however, concerns arose when a ventilator, crucial for post-surgical care, was deemed unavailable,” they told The Kashmiriyat.
This forced the family to rely on manually pumping oxygen until morning.
They said that despite assurances of a ventilator by 11:30 AM, none materialized, leaving Faisal’s condition precarious.
After the surgery, Faisal remained unconscious until noon, further complicating his recovery. Attempts to secure a ventilator proved futile, with hospital authorities citing unavailability and prioritization of other patients.
“Faisal’s transfer to ward number 16 offered little respite, as his condition rapidly deteriorated upon leaving life support,” they claimed.
The family’s distress deepened as medical staff neglected Faisal’s worsening condition, even as he regained consciousness.
Their pleas for intervention fell on deaf ears, with medical personnel offering excuses and evading responsibility.
“Despite the hospital’s assurances, the lack of basic equipment, including a ventilator is a systematic failure in patient care,” the family said, adding that, Faisal’s condition continued to deteriorate, culminating in his untimely demise.
In the aftermath of Faisal’s death, the family’s pursuit of justice encountered further obstacles, as hospital staff attempted to confiscate medical records and evade accountability, the family claimed.
A spokesperson from SMHS hospital disclosed that a 20-year-old male had been admitted to a private hospital in Srinagar and was subsequently referred in critical condition to SMHS Hospital at 12:30 a.m. on the previous night (03/09/2024).
The spokesperson detailed that due consent for urgent surgery was obtained, and the patient was swiftly transferred to the operating theater. Surgery commenced at 3:30 a.m., revealing fecal peritonitis stemming from ileal perforation. Following the procedure, the patient was placed on a ventilator and extubated the following day. However, his condition deteriorated suddenly around 6:00 p.m.
An ICU consultation was promptly initiated, and despite attempts at intubation, the patient passed away. The spokesperson highlighted the grim reality that fecal peritonitis coupled with septic shock carries an alarmingly high mortality rate (50-90%) globally.
“Given the patient’s delayed presentation to the hospital due to prolonged shock and evident fecal septicemia, despite immediate resuscitation and timely surgery, the irreversible shock proved insurmountable, leading to his unfortunate demise,” read the statement.