‘Helpless’, she blames hospital for her fate

Sumeer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 19

Ranjit Kaur (55), after suffering from a heart problem in 2014 had to be operated upon and an artificial cardiac pacemaker implanted in her heart, is spending sleepless nights, writhing in acute pain these days as the pacemaker bulged out of her breast three month ago.

Kaur’s family members rued that they had already spent Rs 3.5 lakh on her operation and demanded that either the private hospital management must return the treatment expenses or treat her without any charges.

Ranjit Kaur, a resident of Sangat Khurd village in Talwandi Sabo, along with her husband Hakam Singh and son Gurjit Singh today addressed a press conference at Bathinda Press Club to air her grievances.

Hakam Singh, who lost both his hands in an accident 20 years ago, said, “We had to sell our house, cattle and jewellery to generate funds for her treatment. We were told by the doctor at Delhi Heart hospital in Bathinda that the pacemaker would keep functioning for 10 years. But just a few weeks after the operation, we had to visit the hospital as the body part operated upon developed severe infection.

And now, the pacemaker has protruded out of her breast. My wife is living with acute pain every minute.”

“Now, as we brought it to the notice of the hospital staff and asked them for treatment, they asked us to pay the same amount that they charged during the operation. Instead of admitting their fault and ensuring free treatment on compensatory grounds, they want to put burden on us,” added Gurjit Singh, son of Ranjit Kaur.

Kaur said they were left with no money to pay for her treatment and her two sons, who worked as farm labourers, contribute only to make both ends meet for the family.

Naresh Goyal, cardiologist, Delhi Heart Institute and Multispecialty Hospital, said, “The artificial heart pacemaker is placed right under the skin and can come out due to skin infection or if there is any technical fault in the battery or other part of the pacemaker. There is a possibility that the skin may have loosened a bit, resulting in the pacemaker bulging out.”

When asked that the family is demanding free treatment on compensatory grounds, Goyal added, “We would provide every sort of help needed in the matter. We are ready to provide treatment on subsidised rates. The family would have to bear minimum expenses, if any medical instrument is required for the treatment.”