7th COVID-19 patient dies at Gandhi ; relative attacks Jr doctor gets booked

Hyderabad: A criminal case has been registered against a COVID-19 patient for reportedly attacking a junior doctor and satff, on duty, following the death of another CoronaVirus patient, at Gandhi Hospital. The incident occurred on April 1^st, resulting in doctors seeking police protection.

According to the doctors, the patient Khaleeluddin, a resident of Quthbullapur , who was in his mid 40s died on Wednesday . He developed ‘Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome’ (ARDS). As per the official records, this marks the 7^th COVID-19 death in Telangana. And a second criminal case registered against a COVID-19 patient

A junior doctor serving at Gandhi Hospital, told this correspondent, “ The decease with respiratory issues was admitted on 25^th March, after he returned from Delhi. He was one of the participants at Tablighi jamaat meeting in Delhi’s Nizamuddin. The following day (i.e March 26) his relative was also tested positive for COVID-19 was admitted . Both, we were placed in the same ward’.

He further adds, “ On Wednesday, Khaleeluddin developed severe ARDS, the doctors asked the family for consent to place him on oxygen support. However the family delayed it. It is to note, as part of the protocol, doctors cannot put a patient on support without the permission of the family. The family wasn’t cooperating despite repeated requests, while the patient’s health deteriorated and subsequently died’.

The death resulted in the decease’s relative who was on next bed, assaulting adoctor. ‘He (patient ) slapped general medicine resident’. A police case has been filed against the latter, we cannot tolerate such behavior, we dont need such patients , said the junior doctor.

The doctors at Gandhi have been seeking for police protection since the number of cases spiked. ‘Anticipating attacks, Our superintendent has been requesting the police to deploy force at Gandhi since March 31^st . They (referring to the police) have been delaying protection. However post this incident, the area Deputy Commissioner of police assured support’ the doctor adds.