Mehnaz, 21, a young woman from Nagrota, Jammu is facing the unfortunate consequence of having her right foot amputated due to the Government Medical College Jammu’s failure to provide appropriate and timely medical treatment for an infection which gradually became severe.
The story begun on June 3, 2023, after the Jammu resident was admitted to General Hospital Sarwal, where she had a normal delivery.
“Few days after her discharge my discharge at the hospital, I developed swelling in my right foot/leg and sought immediate medical treatment at the Govt Medical Hospital, Bakshi Nagar in Jammu,” she said.
Despite the urgency and severity of her condition, the attending doctors negligently applied a cast instead of promptly addressing the infection and providing the necessary treatment. This negligent action allowed the infection to progress unchecked, leading to irreversible damage and ultimately necessitating the amputation of her right foot, she told The Kashmiriyat.
Mehnaz was later taken to Ludhiana’s Dayanand Medical College and Hospital. She said that in regard to medical insurance coverage provided under the govt scheme for needy families, the medical insurance held by Mehnaz is not accepted at the hospital in Ludhiana, creating significant financial burdens and challenges in accessing the necessary ongoing treatment and rehabilitation.
“We had to sell off their meager assets in order to seek treatment for the patient and they have exhausted all their resources,” Mehnaz’s family said.
But Mehnaz, the family member said, had to be discharged early and transported back to Jammu because the family could not afford the inpatient care until she recovers fully.
“It is deeply disheartening that such a grave oversight occurred within a government hospital, which is expected to provide quality healthcare services and prioritize patient well-being. The negligence displayed by the medical professionals responsible has caused immense physical and emotional suffering to Mehnaz and her family,” the family wrote in a letter to June 25, 2023, Bhupinder Kumar, IAS Administrative Secretary, H&ME, Jammu Kashmir admin.
In their letter, the family demanded a thorough investigation into this incident of glaring medical negligence. It is essential to hold the responsible healthcare professionals accountable for their actions and ensure that such negligent practices are not repeated, protecting the rights and well-being of future patients.
“The family is willing to cooperate fully with the investigation, providing any necessary documentation, medical records, or other evidence to support the case. It is my sincere hope that swift action will be taken to address this matter and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future,” said the family.
Additionally, I urge you to take appropriate measures to provide compensation and support to Mehnaz in light of the irreversible harm she has suffered. “We urge you to explore all possible avenues to ensure that Mehnaz receives the necessary ongoing treatment and rehabilitation without financial burden, including facilitating a transfer to a specialized medical facility in Ludhiana because her government medical insurance is purportedly not acceptable to the hospital authorities,” read the letter.
We look forward to your prompt response and the assurance that the necessary steps will be taken to investigate this case thoroughly and provide appropriate justice and support to Mehnaz. Our faith in the healthcare system and the responsible authorities relies on a fair and just resolution to this unfortunate incident, the family appealed in their letter.