Negligence cry after patient’s death following discharge
The Statesman | 9 August 2025
A patient admitted to a healthcare facility in Behala for a heart procedure died a few hours after he was discharged yesterday, leading to an agitation by his family members, who alleged negligence resulting from reluctance in accepting the state government-issued Swasthya Sathi card.
The patient Ajit Halder (60), a resident of Netaji Subhas Road in the area, was brought to the hospital on 4 August with symptoms of chest pain. “The hospital authorities charged Rs 11,000 from us for carrying out immediate tests soon after he was admitted, which we paid,” said a family member. “We were informed that these tests were not covered by the health insurance card,” he added.
“The doctors told us he may require angioplasty and a procedure was carried out that very day. He was however discharged the next day, as the doctors said he did not require any stents (used for coronary artery block). We did not approve of this, and requested that he remain in hospital for another day. But when they assured us, we took the patient home,” the family members added. “But we strongly feel that this was because they did not want to accept payments through the card.”
The patient’s condition deteriorated within a few hours after he reached home following his discharge yesterday, and he died soon after. “Our grievances are against the hospital authorities because they discharged him within 24 hours after the procedure. They could have kept him in the hospital for a couple of days more for observation, but they did not do so because he had the Swasthya Sathi card for cashless reimbursements of bills,” according to the family.
The members held raucous protests today outside the hospital and have threatened to lodge a complaint with the health department and the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission, seeking an inquiry and compensation for the alleged negligence.