Desperately seeking resuscitation
At GMC, heal on own Hundreds use their services everyday, but with equipment and staff stretched to breaking, Goa’s govt hospitals are...
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: Irrespective of the ailment, being a patient at the Bambolimbased Goa Medical College and Hospital, commonly called the GMC, is painful indeed.
Take this list of woes told to TOI by patients past and present:
If you are to be operated, you may have to purchase gloves and disposable syringes for the doctors who will operate on you. Once operated, if you are shifted to a general ward, you run the risk of contracting infections. If you opt for the private ward instead, where you pay about Rs 450 a day, you run the risk of developing convulsions due to the faulty oxygen supply.
Things are no better in the Intensive Coronary Care Unit (ICCU). The dysfunctional air conditioning has forced patients to carry their own table fans in the recent past.
As for medical procedures such as X-rays, CT scans and echocardiography (Echo), they are either short stocked (X-ray films) or non-functional, forcing patients to throng to private practitioners. In the case of procuring a CT scan the patient has to travel to Margao-based Hospicio hospital.There’s more. Despite the budget allocation for medicines being increased from Rs 200 lakh in 2003-04 to Rs 500 lakh in 2006-07, there is a shortage at the GMC pharmacy. And the ambulances, presumably well equipped, have neither wheelchairs nor stretchers, forcing patients brought in to be carried.
To top it all, ill-maintained wards, cobwebs, soiled beds, unclean toilets and bathrooms, garbage scattered around the premises and sometimes in the wards, broken window panes... the list is endless.
“My mother, who had to undergo a back surgery, was infected with bed sores in the general ward and we had to shift her to a private ward to escape any kind of infection,” said Sarla Samant (Name changed on request).
Things were no better in the more expensive ward. “Mom suffered a terrible convulsion and was in urgent need of oxygen, but the central oxygen supply, which comes via the pipes to all the rooms, was not working and the oxygen cylinder that was brought was found to be leaking and the manometer was faulty,” said Samant.
Horrified, Samant said, “Even basic facilities are missing. In the wards, taps leak. In private rooms there are no night lamps. And dirty linen is used for patients. Instead of beautifying the hospital, authorities should look at fulfilling these basic medical facilities,” she added.
With primary and secondary health care facilities failing in Goa, the burden falls on GMC, said hospital authorities. While there are 26 government hospitals in the state, with a collective bed capacity of 2,454 beds, about 1,030 beds are at the GMC alone. Official figures show a 1:636 doctor-patient ratio at GMC, but doctors said the pressures on them were huge.
“Not only is there a lack of drugs, basic amenities like gloves and cotton is not available in the surgery ward, and patients are asked to purchase these,” said doctors. A forensic doctor added, “Since the last two months, we don’t have scalpel blades and we’ve had to purchase these from the pharmacy on an almost daily basis.”
The Good
All services available at one hospital Economical Qualified doctors and nurses Superspeciality treatment available
The Bad
No gloves Untidy bedsheets, dirty corridors Dysfunctional machines Delay in operations
June 21, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Mike Masala rues being witness in Scarlett case
Mike Masala rues being witness in Scarlett case
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: British national Michael Mannion, a crucial eyewitness in the Scarlett Keeling rape and murder case, has advised all British nationals never to volunteer to depose in India if they are a witness to a crime.
Unhappy with the way he has been treated by the police, Mannion said, “I am quite disappointed. As a witness I had volunteered to assist the prosecution and had complied with every directive of the investigating agency. I will certainly not recommend any British national to ever come forward and depose on matters if he or she is ever a witness to the crime.”
Mannion, 35, popularly known as Mike Masala in Anjuna, is the main witness in the teenager’s rape and murder and has deposed before the police that he had seen Samson D’Souza, a bartender (one of the two accused) lying atop Scarlett on the night of Scarlett’s death. Mannion, who left Goa a little after Scarlett’s bruised body was found on Anjuna beach on February 18, had stated that he feared for his life from Samson and therefore left the state, but not the country. In March, he appeared before superintendent of police (North) Bosco George to depose in the case only after a lookout notice was posted, barring his leaving the country. This was done after Manion approached the British consulate in Mumbai saying that he has vital information in the case and needed protection. SCARLETT KEELING CASE
Mannion irked for being detained in Goa
Panaji: British national, Michael Mannion, a crucial eyewitness in the Scarlett Keeling rape and murder case,
lamented that despite having recorded his statement before the police, the police have not allowed him to go back to his country.
“I was promised by the Goa police that immediately after my deposition and statements, I would be permitted to go home. Having named the accused in my statements, I now fear for my life and I have also informed the Goa police that my father is on his death bed and as a son I want to be with him. Despite this, I have not been allowed to go,” said Mannion. Giving Manion moral and emotional support is his brother Paul.
“I had always wanted to come forward to depose for the sake of justice, but when I think of the stress I have undergone as a witness and the fact that I can’t attend to my sick father, I do regret my decision to depose in the case,” Manion added.
June 19, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: British national Michael Mannion, a crucial eyewitness in the Scarlett Keeling rape and murder case, has advised all British nationals never to volunteer to depose in India if they are a witness to a crime.
Unhappy with the way he has been treated by the police, Mannion said, “I am quite disappointed. As a witness I had volunteered to assist the prosecution and had complied with every directive of the investigating agency. I will certainly not recommend any British national to ever come forward and depose on matters if he or she is ever a witness to the crime.”
Mannion, 35, popularly known as Mike Masala in Anjuna, is the main witness in the teenager’s rape and murder and has deposed before the police that he had seen Samson D’Souza, a bartender (one of the two accused) lying atop Scarlett on the night of Scarlett’s death. Mannion, who left Goa a little after Scarlett’s bruised body was found on Anjuna beach on February 18, had stated that he feared for his life from Samson and therefore left the state, but not the country. In March, he appeared before superintendent of police (North) Bosco George to depose in the case only after a lookout notice was posted, barring his leaving the country. This was done after Manion approached the British consulate in Mumbai saying that he has vital information in the case and needed protection. SCARLETT KEELING CASE
Mannion irked for being detained in Goa
Panaji: British national, Michael Mannion, a crucial eyewitness in the Scarlett Keeling rape and murder case,
lamented that despite having recorded his statement before the police, the police have not allowed him to go back to his country.
“I was promised by the Goa police that immediately after my deposition and statements, I would be permitted to go home. Having named the accused in my statements, I now fear for my life and I have also informed the Goa police that my father is on his death bed and as a son I want to be with him. Despite this, I have not been allowed to go,” said Mannion. Giving Manion moral and emotional support is his brother Paul.
“I had always wanted to come forward to depose for the sake of justice, but when I think of the stress I have undergone as a witness and the fact that I can’t attend to my sick father, I do regret my decision to depose in the case,” Manion added.
June 19, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Goa;‘It’s 7.30 pm. Too late. Can’t come to OT’
‘It’s 7.30 pm. Too late. Can’t come to OT’
Kidney Patient Rushed Out Of GMC To Pvt Hospital As Anaesthetist Plays Truant
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: Ramesh Rawal a 65-year-old kidney patient had to be rushed out of the Goa Medical College hospital and operated in a private hospital, as the government anaesthetist refused to attend to the patient, stating that it was “too late”.The patient, who was brought from Maharashtra was admitted to the urology department at GMC, complaining of urine retention. As his condition deteriorated with danger of his kidney collapsing, the doctors decided on an emergency procedure and securing permission from the dean of the GMC, the surgery was fixed for 7.30 pm.
However, as the anaesthetist refused to attend to the patient, he had to be taken to a private hospital in Panaji, where he was operated upon and brought back to GMC, for post-operative treatment, before being discharged.Admitting this happened, GMC dean, Dr V N Jindal played down the situation saying, “Yes, a patient had to be shifted out of GMC and was operated in a private hospital. But it was due to a little misunderstanding. The matter is
settled now.”
Before returning to his home state, the patient lodged a complaint with the directorate of Health Services, based on which, the government has initiated an inquiry against associate professor of anaesthesiology Dr Shaila Kamat, who had refused to attend to the patient, and anaesthesiology department head Dr Marilyn Nazareth.
Sources in the health department confirmed this and said that the doctors had not only put a patient’s life at risk but also violated the Hippocratic Oath. The Hippocratic Oath that every doctor takes states: “I will follow that method of treatment which according to my ability and judgement, I consider for the benefit of my patient and abstain from whatever is harmful or mischievous.”
“If the case is high risk, then the anaesthetist can refuse to attend to the patient after examining the patient or it can even be a case of mere neglect. But the GMC dean is the best person to handle it,” added Disciplinary and Ethics committee chairman of Goa Medical Council Dr Ulhas Karpe.
(Patient’s name changed to protect identity)
June 20, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Kidney Patient Rushed Out Of GMC To Pvt Hospital As Anaesthetist Plays Truant
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: Ramesh Rawal a 65-year-old kidney patient had to be rushed out of the Goa Medical College hospital and operated in a private hospital, as the government anaesthetist refused to attend to the patient, stating that it was “too late”.The patient, who was brought from Maharashtra was admitted to the urology department at GMC, complaining of urine retention. As his condition deteriorated with danger of his kidney collapsing, the doctors decided on an emergency procedure and securing permission from the dean of the GMC, the surgery was fixed for 7.30 pm.
However, as the anaesthetist refused to attend to the patient, he had to be taken to a private hospital in Panaji, where he was operated upon and brought back to GMC, for post-operative treatment, before being discharged.Admitting this happened, GMC dean, Dr V N Jindal played down the situation saying, “Yes, a patient had to be shifted out of GMC and was operated in a private hospital. But it was due to a little misunderstanding. The matter is
settled now.”
Before returning to his home state, the patient lodged a complaint with the directorate of Health Services, based on which, the government has initiated an inquiry against associate professor of anaesthesiology Dr Shaila Kamat, who had refused to attend to the patient, and anaesthesiology department head Dr Marilyn Nazareth.
Sources in the health department confirmed this and said that the doctors had not only put a patient’s life at risk but also violated the Hippocratic Oath. The Hippocratic Oath that every doctor takes states: “I will follow that method of treatment which according to my ability and judgement, I consider for the benefit of my patient and abstain from whatever is harmful or mischievous.”
“If the case is high risk, then the anaesthetist can refuse to attend to the patient after examining the patient or it can even be a case of mere neglect. But the GMC dean is the best person to handle it,” added Disciplinary and Ethics committee chairman of Goa Medical Council Dr Ulhas Karpe.
(Patient’s name changed to protect identity)
June 20, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
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