Vellore medical college submits report on delay in admission of cancer patient

Vellore

Hospital sources said that Kalaiarasi (24), wife of Sundararaji (35), a farmer of Gudiayttam, was first admitted to a private hospital in Vellore for treatment of cervical cancer. As neither the patient nor her husband did not realise the serious nature of the illness, the private hospital discharged the patient and Sundararaji took his wife home.

However, when the pain became unbearable, Sundararaji rushed her to the Gudiyattam Government Hospital. The doctors there told him to take his wife to either Kanchipuram Cancer Hospital or the Cancer Institute at Chennai. In haste, the man took Kalaiarasi to the Vellore Government Medical College Hospital by 108 ambulance. The hospital did not admit the patient immediately. As the doctors thought it was a gynecologic problem, they sent her to maternity doctors, who failed to diagnose the disease.

Acting as per the stipulations for the 108 ambulance, the crew had to contact hospital authorities if they were kept waiting for more than 15 minutes. However, the crew contacted their central office after waiting for 30 minutes and informed that the patient was not admitted. Only after the 108 manager contacted the hospital’s resident medical officer (RMO), there quick and serious action by doctors.

Immediately, Kalaiarasi was admitted to the hospital. Later, doctors from Vellore government hospital contacted the Kanchipuram cancer hospital for further treatment. The hospital agreed to admit Kalaiarasi if she was sent in a stable condition.

Vellore hospital dean Dr V Shantimalar told this reporter that lack of proper awareness and communication resulted in the delay in admitting the patient, who was suffering from stage III terminal cancer.