65-year-old patient ‘jumps to death’ from nursing home washroom
TNN | Updated: Apr 8, 2019, 06:05 IST
The iron fencing on which Ashok Hazra (inset) reportedly fell from the fourth floor toilet (right)KOLKATA: A 65-year-old chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient allegedly committed suicide by jumping off the fourth floor window of the ICU of a well-known nursing home in Lake Town where he was undergoing treatment since last Tuesday.
Ashok Hazra, a resident of Hooghly’s Jangipara, died a painful death as he fell on the iron spikes of the fencing around the nursing home. His torso was split into two in front of hundreds of people, who were at the hospital during the Sunday morning visiting hours.
Relatives of Hazra accused the nursing home authorities of negligence and non cooperation, questioning how a bedridden ICU patient, who was on catheter, was allowed to go to the washroom alone.
“I met my father around 10.30am and he looked perfectly fine. We had a brief chat after which I went out to bring my mother, who was waiting near Lake Town. When I returned, we were first refused to go upstairs and then around 12 noon, the nursing home officials arranged a car for us and asked us to go to R G Kar hospital, saying that my father had jumped from the toilet window. Why wasn’t anyone keeping an eye on him?” asked his son Amit, who is a non teaching staff at a school in Garia.
The family later lodged a complaint with Lake Town police demanding a detailed probe. Police said the incident primarily seemed to be a case of suicide as the door of the washroom — meant only for doctors — beside the ICU was locked from inside and the window panes were broken and ajar, wide enough for a person to sit and jump. However, the body has been sent for post mortem and cops have initiated a probe to find out the exact flow of events.
“The nursing home authorities have told us that the man was suffering from COPD and had a heart blockage. He had even developed some psychiatric issues and was advised treatment for the same. We are checking his medical history and speaking at length with the nursing home officials and those in charge at that time,” said a senior officer of Bidhannagar Commissionerate.
The relatives, however, refused to buy the claims and demonstrated at the nursing home on Sunday afternoon. “My father was getting better and he was supposed to be released in a few days. Why would he commit suicide?” asked Amit. TOI tried to speak to the nursing home authorities but the employees said none other than the CEO and the manager were allowed to speak. The manager’s cellphone was switched off and in spite of multiple calls at the nursing home’s landline number, the CEO was unavailable.
Hazra, a retired private service employee, had been suffering from chest pain for several months and was diagnosed with COPD earlier this year. Since then he was under treatment at Maniktala ESI Hospital. After his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to the nursing home at Sreeebhumi on Tuesday.
Ashok Hazra, a resident of Hooghly’s Jangipara, died a painful death as he fell on the iron spikes of the fencing around the nursing home. His torso was split into two in front of hundreds of people, who were at the hospital during the Sunday morning visiting hours.
Relatives of Hazra accused the nursing home authorities of negligence and non cooperation, questioning how a bedridden ICU patient, who was on catheter, was allowed to go to the washroom alone.
“I met my father around 10.30am and he looked perfectly fine. We had a brief chat after which I went out to bring my mother, who was waiting near Lake Town. When I returned, we were first refused to go upstairs and then around 12 noon, the nursing home officials arranged a car for us and asked us to go to R G Kar hospital, saying that my father had jumped from the toilet window. Why wasn’t anyone keeping an eye on him?” asked his son Amit, who is a non teaching staff at a school in Garia.
The family later lodged a complaint with Lake Town police demanding a detailed probe. Police said the incident primarily seemed to be a case of suicide as the door of the washroom — meant only for doctors — beside the ICU was locked from inside and the window panes were broken and ajar, wide enough for a person to sit and jump. However, the body has been sent for post mortem and cops have initiated a probe to find out the exact flow of events.
“The nursing home authorities have told us that the man was suffering from COPD and had a heart blockage. He had even developed some psychiatric issues and was advised treatment for the same. We are checking his medical history and speaking at length with the nursing home officials and those in charge at that time,” said a senior officer of Bidhannagar Commissionerate.
The relatives, however, refused to buy the claims and demonstrated at the nursing home on Sunday afternoon. “My father was getting better and he was supposed to be released in a few days. Why would he commit suicide?” asked Amit. TOI tried to speak to the nursing home authorities but the employees said none other than the CEO and the manager were allowed to speak. The manager’s cellphone was switched off and in spite of multiple calls at the nursing home’s landline number, the CEO was unavailable.
Hazra, a retired private service employee, had been suffering from chest pain for several months and was diagnosed with COPD earlier this year. Since then he was under treatment at Maniktala ESI Hospital. After his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to the nursing home at Sreeebhumi on Tuesday.
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