Three patients on ventilator die due to power failure in Gwalior

At least three patients on ventilator at the trauma centre of the Jayarogya group of hospitals, affiliated to the government-owned G.R. Medical College, reportedly died due to power failure in Gwalior district on Tuesday.

The deceased were identified as Mahendra Jatav, 38; Om Prakash Dhakkad, 40; and Rajesh, 14.

There was no power around 2 p.m. and some of the machines stopped functioning, a relative of Mahendra Jatav told media persons.

Gyan Singh, uncle of Rajesh, alleged that when the supply resumed after 20 minutes, the patient showed no signs of life. “But the doctors declared him dead only late in the evening,” Mr. Gyan Singh alleged.

A medical officer said the doctors rushed to their aid but they could not revive the patients.

The Hospital administration denied that power failure had caused the deaths. “We have investigated the matter. We are sure that failure of power supply in the trauma centre is not the reason behind the deaths. It’s true that for some time two monitor screens were blank, but that did not have any thing to do with the patients’ treatment. Two patients were brain dead, and it is very difficult to save such patients,” Dr J.S. Sikarwar, superintendent of the hospital said.