Barishal: Two patients reportedly died at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal on Sunday morning due to alleged negligence of doctors or wrong treatment. The deceased were identified as Helena Begum, 48, and Shefali Begum, 60, both from Patuakhali District.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the incident occurred at the female ward of the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department on the fourth floor of the hospital. Family members stated that Helena Begum had been admitted for a thyroid problem, while Shefali Begum was admitted for surgery to remove a tumour inside her mouth. On Sunday morning, nurses reportedly administered several injections to the patients ahead of their scheduled surgeries, after which both patients fell seriously ill and died shortly afterwards.
Ibrahim, son of Helena Begum, alleged that his mother was stable before the injection was administered. He claimed that after the nurse pushed the injection, his mother suddenly became critically ill and died, and the family had informed the hospital authorities about the incident. Similarly, Khadija Begum, daughter of Shefali Begum, alleged negligence by the nurses, reporting that her mother fell sick after receiving several injections in the morning and that no immediate initiative was taken to save her despite informing the staff.
Hospital sources revealed that the director visited the ward following the incident and conducted a preliminary inquiry. A nurse on duty, Helen Adhikari, claimed she only administered the injections and did not break the vial of the medicine, which she said was done by another nurse, Malina Haldar. Malina Haldar stated that the injections were administered according to the doctor’s prescription and that the attending doctor was informed by phone when the patients’ conditions deteriorated.
Khadeja Begum, nursing supervisor at the hospital, mentioned that she learned about the incident after arriving at the hospital in the morning and that the details were still being verified. Meanwhile, the hospital director, Brig Gen Dr AKM Mashiul Munir, stated that an anaesthetic drug intended for use inside the operation theatre appeared to have been administered earlier in the ward, describing the incident as negligence and a punishable offence. The matter has been reported to the Directorate General of Health Services for departmental action.