Kalyan: In the wake of medical negligence leading to the death of a 43-year-old woman at the Rukminibai hospital in Kalyan West, four staff have been suspended while the services of two others including a medical doctor have been terminated.

Savita Biradar was rushed to the hospital on May 5 with early warning signs of a possible cerebrovascular stroke. Dr Umer Patel, a physician and a contractual employee, initially assessed her and later referred the patient to Dr Nishikant Sharma, a specialist physician.

Dr Sharma recommended immediate neurological intervention and suggested shifting the patient to either KEM Hospital in Mumbai or Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa. The referral letter was issued at 2:00 pm.

Biradar’s family tried to arrange an ambulance through the government’s 108 emergency service, but were informed that no vehicle was available. Meanwhile, on-duty nurses Komal Dighe and Namita Bhoye, along with ward in-charge Jayashree Raikar, notified the hospital’s ambulance driver at 2:15 p.m. However, that too was not available.

Meanwhile, Biradar’s condition worsened and had to be rushed to the trauma unit for emergency care. Despite best efforts, Biradar was declared dead at 3:45 p.m.

Following the tragic death, KDMC had initiated an inquiry into the matter. A committee was formed to investigate the delay, KDMC additional commissioner Harshal Gaikwad said.

The inquiry identified multiple counts of negligence. It was found that Dr Umer Patel had failed to follow up with the ambulance team or escalate the matter when evacuation of the patient was not happening within time. Nurse Namita Bhoye and ward in-charge Jayashree Raikar had failed to notify the chief medical officer about the emergency and failed to expedite the transfer. Ambulance drivers Pramod Lasure and Harishchandra Yeshwantrao were found guilty of not responding in time despite being on duty. The decision of ambulance driver Maruti Nikam, who left to refuel the vehicle, was also deemed highly irresponsible.

Following the inquiry, KDMC suspended Jayashree Raikar, Pramod Lasure, Harishchandra Yeshwantrao and Maruti Nikam. The services of Dr Umer Patel and Namita Bhoye, both outsourced employees, have been terminated. Formal explanation has also been sought from the chief medical officer and the medical health officer, Gaikwad added.