BY: Kashmir News Service
Srinagar, Mar 27: A day after Kashmir reported its first COVID-19 death case, an investigation carried out by KNS has revealed how protocol required for treating such patients was not followed at JVC as well as SKIMS Soura.
On 21st March, the deceased 65-year-old man visited JVC at 8:35 am and according to the patient registration card issued by JVC he disclosed his travel history.
A junior resident doctor checked him initially, he then called his senior resident doctor and finally, consultant checked up him, the patient report card of JVC revealed.
“Case discussed with consultant chest disease. High suspicion of COVID -19. Needs immediate testing in view of worsening saturation. Refer to SKIMS for further treatment (sic),” wrote the consultant on the patient report card.
The doctors at JVC added that he (the deceased man) was asked to take ambulance for SKIMS but the attendant who was also a doctor preferred to go by their personal vehicle.
JVC administration negligence:
They let him go by personal car and did not track him. The SOP for such patients is it coordinator cum liaisoning officer nominated by the hospital should have been informed immediately who would have alerted administration and police, a top health official told KNS.
“This was a major breach on part of MS JVC. The official should not have let the patient go in any case. The official should be taken to task,” he said.
On the same day ( 21st March) at around 11: 59 am he (the deceased man) reached SKIMS Soura and visited COVID Clinic (Emergency) with suspected Covid written on the initial diagnosis a column of the patient report card.
As per the patient report card, here he revealed his entire travel history from Andaman Nicobar to Srinagar.
He has also revealed that he was screened at Srinagar airport. This puts a big question on the screening facilities set up by Government at the Srinagar Airport for COVID suspected patients.
“No contact with any COVID positive patient. Other co-workers who were travelling with him were having fever and cough; now relieved and doing fine. They were from UP (sic),” reveals the SKIMS report card of the patient.
The report card also reveals that the patient was advised home quarantine, maintaining hygiene, avoid social gatherings.
“They want to talk to consultant Dr Ajaz Koul for further management and advice,” report card reads.
Reportedly, the consultant has seconded the advice of his junior doctor and allowed him to go home.
“Consultant told them that he is not COVID -19 patient or if they still insist he can be admitted in general medicine ward or he can go for home quarantine,” a senior doctor told KNS.
SKIMS Mishandling
SKIMS consultant allowed him to go home despite grave symptoms of COVID-19. The protocol should have been followed and the patient should have been admitted him in an isolation ward. Administration should have been alerted.
“We are looking into all lapses seriously and heads will roll. No one will be spared, no matter how big he is,” a senior official
On the same evening, he again visits JVC after feeling stiffness in the chest.
The doctors there ask him to get admitted in the hospital, but again the patient manages to leave the hospital.
Reportedly, the MS communicates with chest medicine consultant and asks him to admit the patient. “She should have communicated with liaison officer also and sought the help of police. But it did not happen,” a senior doctor in JVC said.
Next morning, the patient along with doctor attendant visited CD hospital Dalgate and doctors there admitted him.
Meanwhile, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, has ordered an inquiry into the alleged mishandling of the case at the JVC Hospital in Srinagar.
