Patient dies of cardiac arrest at SKIMS, family blames strike

Srinagar Jan 10: A patient from Ganderbal Wednesday died of a heart stroke at SK Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura, with his relatives blaming the ongoing strike of the doctors for it.
The deceased, Ali Mohammad Wani, 57, from Saloora, was brought to SKIMS at around 9 pm on Monday after he had developed pain in his left shoulder and chest earlier in the day, Wani’s close relative said.
Although Wani underwent “satisfactory” primary treatment at the SKIMS’ emergency, he was denied subsequent treatment including a crucial heart test for almost two days allegedly leading to his death, the relative said.
“From the emergency, he was shifted to bed number 6 of the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU). He was to undergo angiography yesterday, but they denied him one on the pretext of the ongoing strike of the doctors,” recalled the relative.
“The test was done late Wednesday afternoon only after approaching the institute higher ups. Otherwise, they had denied the test even today,” he said.
As per the relative, Wani was to undergo a surgery, but he succumbed “at around 4 pm on bed at the cath lab, shortly after the test”.
“The doctors called it stroke,” he said.
“Had the angiography and the subsequent surgery been done on time yesterday, his death could have been averted,” the relative said.
Over the allegations, Medical Superintendent SKIMS, Dr Amin Tabish, said, “Let them lodge a complaint with me, I will order a probe.”
After the deceased had a heart attack, Tabish said, “He succumbed while two senior faculty cardiologists were inserting stents into him as three arteries of his heart were blocked.”
“While inserting the stents, he suffered brain stem bleed as he was already hypertensive. The patient died while the doctors tried to resuscitate him,” Dr Tabish said.
To mention, demanding reinstatement of the recently removed Director SKIMS, Dr A G Ahanger, the Resident Doctors Association (RDA) SKIMS has been on strike since Tuesday.