The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recently sought a response from the Health Secretary of Odisha over the death of a child on April 10 last at the Pattamundai Community Health Center as the doctor who was in an inebriated condition at his duty did attend the patient carefully. On the contrary, he misbehaved with the guardians of the sick child when they went to request him to attend their patient.
Acting on a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist RadhakantaTripathy, the NHRC passed the order.
Notably, Sujata Nayak (8), daughter of Basudev Nayak of Baipada village under Khadianta Panchyat of Pattamundai police limits, on the wee hours of April 10 was rushed to the Pattamundai CHC for getting treatment as she was suffering from pneumonia. The family members approached Dr Bhaskar Chandra Kar, in-charge medical officer of the Pattamundai CHC, who was on duty. But the doctor was in inebriated condition and took the case casually.
Kar also misbehaved with the guardians of the patient and allegedly threw liquor bottles towards them in a fit of rage for being pestered. As a result, the child remained unattended for nearly two hours and later died.
later, the incident had sparked tension in the hospital premises as irate locals had created uproar over the issue though the matter was settled with intervention of police.
Petitioner Tripathy, terming denial of proper treatment to the patient as violation of human rights, urged the NHRC to direct the State to take legal action against the doctor and pay compensation of `5 lakh to the bereaved family. The NHRC sought action taken report within four weeks from the State Health Secretary.