Medical carelessness in the largest group of hospitals in the Gwalior Chambal Division has once again claimed lives, this time three in one day. While medical negligence like sloppiness, want of due attention and wrong diagnoses have been the main causes of death in the past, this time it was the power failure, followed by the ventilator break-down that caused the deaths.

A power failure at the trauma center of JAH caused the ventilator to malfunction, and two people, who were earlier admitted in a serious condition died. A couple of hours later another death occurred at the same trauma center as there was a shortage of oxygen due to the power failure.

MahendraJatav and Rajesh Baghel, both residents of Gwalior, and OmprakashDhakad, resident of Sambalgarh were admitted at the Trauma Centre with serious head injuries and were on ventilator. Speaking to the media persons, Narmada, the sister-in-law of Mahendra said that there was a power failure around 2 in the afternoon, resulting in the ventilator shutting down. She added that the matter was brought to the notice of the medical staff at the center, but none responded. The relatives of Omprakash said that he had died due to lack of oxygen at the center.

While the relatives of the deceased allege that it was negligence and carelessness on the part of the hospital that led to the deaths, the hospital authorities deny any wrong doing and claim there was no power failure apart from the fact that there was sufficient number of oxygen cylinders at the trauma centre.

Speaking to the media persons, Dr JS Sikarwar, Superintend of JAH Group of Hospitals said that all the three patients were in critical condition when they were admitted. As their condition deteriorated they had to be put on ventilator support, and this was done without any delay or failure. He added that the relatives of the patients were informed of the critical condition of the patients and the poor prognosis in such cases.

Jyodiraditya Scindia, former Union Minster and Congress leader tweeted that he was shocked and saddened at the turn of events at the JAH and hoped the authorities will take appropriate steps so that such tragedies don’t happen in the future.