Aditya Birla Hospital — formal complaint regarding the death of patient malvika sahay (uhid: b[protected] alleged medical negligence and lack of clinical

Address: B.M.Birla Heart Research Centre, 1,1, National Library Ave, Alipore, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700027

Sir/Madam,

I am writing this letter on behalf of the family of Ms. Malvika Sahay (UHID: B[protected] to raise a serious concern regarding the events leading up to her untimely death on June 16, 2025, less than 16 hours after she was discharged from your hospital, B.M. Birla Heart Research Centre. We believe her passing was the direct result of clinical negligence, premature discharge, and questionable medical decision-making, despite her fragile condition and multiple comorbidities.

Background and Timeline:

Ms. Sahay was admitted to your facility under the care of Dr. Anjan Siotia, Head of Cardiology, who referred her to Dr. Soumya Guha, the operating surgeon. The primary purpose of hospitalization was to perform an aortic valve replacement surgery, via small incision of 2 inches. We were informed that her underlying medical condition was complex, and yet, despite several red flags, the surgical procedure was undertaken. Her pre-existing conditions were clearly mentioned in the death certificate and in her medical history (attached). With such significant comorbidities, it is unclear why the operating team did not exercise more clinical caution or, at the very least, provide the family with a clear picture of the elevated risk. However, what became increasingly clear is that our mother was, in effect, treated as a clinical case study; rather than a vulnerable patient whose fragile condition should have warranted reconsideration of invasive intervention. On June 12, 2025, she was transferred from Bed No. 117 to Bed 311B. Surgery was performed, and the recovery period that followed was marred by extended ICU stay, lack of visible improvement, and continued oxygen dependence.

Issue 1: Surgery Despite High-Risk Conditions

We raise the first and most pressing concern, why was the surgery performed at all when the medical team was fully aware of the severity of her underlying health conditions? If the doctors deemed the case too risky or if they had even the slightest doubt regarding a positive outcome, they should have refused surgery or advised against it. Instead, Dr. Guha had confidently stated that the procedure had a 94% success rate. The reality that followed speaks otherwise.

Issue 2: Premature Discharge on Oxygen Support

Ms. Sahay was discharged late on Sunday night, June 15, while she was still on oxygen support. Discharging a senior patient, just out of surgery and with visible complications, on a weekend night (Sunday night) while still oxygen-dependent, is not only medically uncommon but potentially reckless. Within 16 hours, her condition deteriorated rapidly at home. Despite oxygen support, she became unresponsive. We reached out to Dr. Soumya Guha, who, upon reviewing her via video call, immediately recommended that she be rushed to Apollo Hospital, Salt Lake (Sector 5), citing proximity. At that point, she was already non-responsive, and emergency efforts failed. It was evident that the discharge was premature, and she should have remained under hospital observation. It is to be noted, that this is not the first time medical negligence has happened at BM Birla hospital.

Ref:
• https://indiankanoon.org/doc/[protected]/
• https://www.thestatesman.com/bengal/bm-birla-asked-cover-treatment-cost-patient-...⇄

Summary of Concerns:
• Questionable decision to proceed with surgery despite high-risk comorbidities
• No thorough risk disclosure was made to the family before surgery
• Use of patient as a "case of interest" given her complex condition
• Discharge on oxygen support, late at night, without adequate stabilization
• Failure to provide a continuum of care post-discharge or coordinate a safe recovery plan
• Death within 16 hours of discharge raises grave concerns about her true condition at time of release

What We Seek

We demand a formal explanation and reimbursement into the medical expenses occurred at the hospital and decisions taken by Dr. Anjan Siotia and Dr. Soumya Guha, including a full review of Ms. Sahay’s pre-surgical assessment, justification for surgical clearance, ICU notes, discharge summary, and internal meeting minutes related to her case.

We also ask for a written explanation as to:
1. Why the surgery was not declined given her comorbidities
2. Why the patient was discharged while oxygen-dependent and clinically unstable
3. What criteria were used to determine readiness for discharge

The loss of our mother is irreparable. What we ask now is accountability, transparency, and above all, reform, so that no other family suffers a similar fate under the guise of treatment.