Hyderabad: A mentally-ill patient died and seventy were believed to have been taken ill after a suspected food poisoning incident at the Institute of Mental Health, Erragadda on Tuesday, June 3.
Out of the affected patients, 68 were known to be in stable condition, while two critically-ill patients were shifted to the Osmania General Hospital for treatment.
The deceased was reportedly identified as Karan (30).
When contacted, Hyderabad district medical and health officer Dr Venkati stated that he would get back to Siasat.com after getting a confirmation of the news that was going viral since Tuesday evening.
As per reports, health minister Damodar Raja Narasimha reviewed the incident and instructed the officials to deputy a special team of doctors from the Osamania General Hospital to treat the affected patients at the Erragadda hospital.
The superintendent of the Erragadda hospital couldn’t be reached for a comment.
However, the superintendent of the hospital conceded in a statement to media (a rejoinder to a news item on the issue), that 35 patients complained of loose motions suggestive of a gastrointestinal upset.
“Adequate hydration, electrolyte replacement and antibiotic therapy (where required) were instituted based on clinical assessment,” stated the rejoinder.
The doctors push the bale on the police
According to the statement of the superintendent, Karan, a destitute, was referred to the hospital by the magistrate of Bhupalapally on August 25, 2023.
“He was diagnosed to be having intellectual disability with behavioural impairment,” the statement read.
However, Karan was found fit to be discharged within 2 months, on November 15, 2023.
“As the patient doesn’t have family members, the police didn’t take him back even after multiple reminders,” the statement read.
Due the the alleged neglect of those responsible for releasing him from the hospital, Karan couldn’t be set free, though he was not found to be dangerous for the society.
According to the Erragadda mental hospital authorities, Karan has been sick for the past couple of days, and was found to have been diagnosed with Bronchopneumonia, which might have led to his cardiopulmonary arrest (cardiac arrest), when he was found without any pulse at around 5.30 am on Tuesday, according to the hospital superintendent.
She stated that the exact cause of the death will be communicated after the post-mortem of Karan’s mortal remains.
According to the Mental Healthcare Act (MHCA) 2017, “Preventing homelessness, suicide and/or being criminalized is part of the discharge planning” of a mentally-ill patient while being discharged from the hospital.
