In consultation with oncologist Dr Swarnabindu Banerjee, we decided to conduct radiation therapy to control the spread of cancer in my father's brain. My father Kalyan Kumar Adhya was 78 years old.
Dr Banerjee did tell us that father will be given steroids to suppress post-radiation inflammation in the brain and that due to the steroids, existing infections in the body might flare up. Therefore he will be closely monitored and if required radiation will be stopped.
On 26th April, father was hospitalized to undergo radiation therapy. It was a joint admission under Dr Swarnabindu Banerjee (oncologist), Dr Arindam Roy Chowdhury (medicine) and Dr Sanjoy Roy (radiologist). His gut infection had been causing loose motion but he had no fever and could walk around. His blood work did show signs of significant infection with a CRP of 90 (normally it should be under 5). All reports were shared with Dr Banerjee.
On 27th April, he had an ultrasonography, according to which he was retaining urine significantly (i.e., he was not urinating at normal levels) and he was showing signs of renal disease.
We got this report in hand later but on the same day we had met Dr Arindam Roy Chowdhury to enquire about father's health and he said that father is fine and that we could take him back home and come to the hospital only to give radiation.
We insisted on keeping him in the hospital till he could confidently walk around to which Dr Swarnabindu Banerjee agreed.
On 29th, father started defecating 9 to 10 times a day, he showed no interest to eat, he was urinating less and was in an irritable mood. According to established and educative medical portals, these along with the USG report, were signs that his infection was spreading.
On 1st of May, I went to the hospital in the morning and saw that my father was feeling horrible nausea and he was complaining of acidity. My father is the kind who would hold back any physical discomfort to the best of his stamina and ability. Seeing him suffer I asked the RMO whether any antacid was being given or any anti nausea medicines. None were administered since morning including his blood pressure medicines.
The nurses said that this was because father had refused to let them create a channel in his hand. He did this based on past experience where inexperienced staff would try to experiment while creating channels and cause immense pain. My mother and I used to create a ruckus and make them send experienced technicians to do this staff. That's why father wanted us to be present when the channel was being created. But surely medicines like PAN 40, cardivas and zofer could have been administered orally without wasting time callously.
As a result his pressure had shot upto 140 by 80. He had always taken PAN 40 since he used to have medicines to control hypertension and diabetes. Imagine this, they stopped giving him PAN 40 since 27th May despite the fact that he was being charged with heavy duty medicines!
Upon creating a ruckus, Dr Roy Chowdhury came and administered an intra muscular injection to control the nausea and gave him a PAN 40. This was at 12 30 pm.
He then asked us to give permission to radiate him. I asked whether my father got steroids in the morning. The answer was no and then swiftly he was injected with Decmax. He then asked us to give permission to create a central vein channel to administer medicines that would stabilize him including antibiotics to control the infection.
We consented but the nursing staff came and told us that father needs to receive radiation first and then he would be taken to ICU to create a channel through his neck to the central vein. I objected to this and asked that medicines be administered first and then he be radiated. A patient progressing towards septic shock was dealt with in the most callous way possible and had not received medicines till 3 30 pm! Dr Roy Chowdhury came again and told me I was not a qualified doctor and am creating obstacles in the path of treatment.
He then said something which revealed the fact that he understood that my father had gone into sepsis and could get a heart attack at any point. He told us that my father had complications and could have a cardiac arrest and should be shifted to ICU after radiation. The fact is that an efficient doctor would have put him into ICU 2 days ago itself to control the infection and radiate him safely.
By the time my father reached ICU, his pressure was 180 by 90 and his heart rate was 140 to 150, he was semi conscious, agitated, had breathing trouble and acidic hiccups. This was at 8 pm. At 9 30 pm, Dr Roy Chowdhury called up and said that he had metabolic acidosis and septic shocks, breathing trouble and they were putting him on aggressive oxygen support and will administer high dose antibiotics.
At 1 o clock we received a phone call from the ICU. They were unable to find his pulse and would do CPR. We rushed to the ICU and in front o[censored]s (me and my mother) they gave CPR and shocks and I saw my father's body jumping up and down, his eyes were open and they were dead. No experience can be more traumatic than this.
At 1: 25 am, they gave up and declared him dead.
Sepsis can turn life threatening in less than 24 hours and my father had shown clear signs of it for more than 36 hours. To say that he was murdered is the least.
Dr Arindam Roy Chowdhury and the nursing staff and RMOs at Ruby General Hospital should leave the medical practice. That will save lives.
Was this information helpful?
Post your Comment