Negligence complaint on Apollo

Kolkata: A day after chief minister Mamata Banerjee ordered a fresh probe into the death of Sanjoy Roy due to alleged medical negligence by Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, Ruby Roy, the wife of the deceased, lodged a complaint of medical negligence with the Phoolbagan police station against the private hospital authorities on Sunday.

The private hospital located off EM Bypass falls under the Phoolbagan police station’s jurisdiction. Acting on Ms Roy’s complaint, the police initated a case under Sections 304A (causing death by negligence), 384 (extortion) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

Deputy commissioner of police (eastern suburban division) Debasmita Das visited the police station at the time Ms Roy went there accompanied by two family members. Ms Das spoke to Ms Roy about the case.

According to sources, Ms Roy alleged medical negligence, the delay by Apollo in shifting her injured husband to SSKM Hospital and the exhorbitant medical bills in her complaint.

Additional-officer-in-charge of the Phoolbagan police station Suman Kumar Naskar has been appointed as the investigating officer in the case.

Before visiting the police station, Ms Roy said at her residence in Dankuni, Hooghly, “We are going to lodge a complaint against Apollo. We demand punishment for Apollo and want it to be shut down. But I alone cannot close down it. We want others to join and support my effort. Had anyone else took such a step, I may not have to see this day in my life. It has happened earlier that patients were admitted and died.”

She added, “However, their kin did not take any step. But I will take the step. Though I will spend my life in tears, I will see it till the end. The chief minister knows everything and she is with us. I went to meet her nephew on Saturday.”

When Ms Roy was at the Phoolbagan police station, three Apollo officials visited the Dankuni police station and requested the cops to take them to visit Mr Roy’s residence at Kamarpukur.

Sources claimed that the Apollo officials wanted to hand over the money charged for treatment to Mr Roy’s family. But the police told them that no one was there at the house. After waiting at least half-an-hour at the police station, the Apollo officials left.

Earlier, Trinamul Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee visited Mr Roy’s wife and family members and offered his condolences.

In Burdwan, four persons, including a nursing home owner and a manager, were arrested by the police in connection with the suicide of a man after being handed an exhorbitant medical bill for the treatment of his daughter who was shifted at Apollo fraudulently.