NHRC issues reminder to Delhi Government seeking a report on the deaths of four patients at Sushruta Trauma Centre

New Delhi, 13th February, 2013

The National Human Rights Commission is yet to receive a response from the Delhi Government on its notice seeking a report about the alleged death of four patients at Sushruta Trauma Centre due to cutting off oxygen supply in the ICU.


The Commission had taken suo motu cognizance of a media report in this regard on the 12th December, 2012. A notice was issued to the Delhi Government through its Health Secretary calling for a detailed report in the matter within two weeks.


Having received no response, the Commission has issued a reminder on the 5th February, 2013 to the Health Secretary, Delhi Government to submit the requisite report within four weeks positively.


According to the media report, the hospital authorities said that contractor in-charge of maintaining oxygen supply failed to ensure that there were enough backup cylinders.


Quoting Additional Medical Superintendent of the hospital it was also reported that oxygen supply was first snapped for 5-7 minutes since the pressure in the only cylinder in service was critically low. It took the representative of the private company another five minutes to replace the cylinder. On the fateful night only a single helper was in the hospital instead of three, including one technician, whose services were to be provided by the private contractor. He too was not aware that 11 oxygen cylinders were to be kept on one side of ICU and another 10 on the other side and that all the cylinders should be functional.


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