In yet another disturbing incident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, a patient identified as Biswajit Samanta allegedly died after being forced to walk to a toilet despite being in a critical condition.
The incident occurred on Monday (March 23) when Samanta was admitted to the trauma care unit with severe chest pain, breathing difficulties, and nasal bleeding. According to family members, his condition had marginally stabilised after initial treatment but what followed has triggered outrage.
Relatives of the deceased have alleged that when Samanta needed to use the restroom, hospital staff refused to provide assistance or a stretcher. Instead, they were directed to a Sulabh toilet facility located nearly 50 metres away.
Forced to walk in a fragile state, Samanta reportedly collapsed before reaching the facility. He was later declared dead by doctors.
Recounting the ordeal, his wife, Ila Samanta, said: “He was unwell but slightly stable after treatment. When he asked to go to the toilet, no one helped. How can a hospital force a sick patient to walk? This led to his death.”
The family further claimed that repeated requests for a stretcher were ignored by the hospital staff.
This tragedy comes close on the heels of another shocking incident at the same hospital, where a man reportedly died after being trapped in a malfunctioning lift for over an hour.
The back-to-back incidents have intensified concerns over systemic lapses, poor infrastructure, and alleged apathy in one of Kolkata’s prominent state-run medical institutions.
Following Samanta’s death, angry relatives and locals staged protests within the hospital premises, accusing the administration of gross negligence and inhuman treatment of patients.
The incident has reignited debate over the condition of public healthcare facilities in West Bengal, with critics questioning whether adequate systems are in place to ensure basic patient care.
Despite the growing outrage, hospital authorities had not issued an official statement at the time of reporting.
The repeated incidents at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have put the spotlight squarely on the healthcare administration under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
With allegations ranging from lack of basic facilities like stretchers to fatal infrastructure failures such as malfunctioning lifts, questions are being raised about accountability, oversight, and governance.
Is this an isolated case of negligence or a deeper systemic crisis unfolding under the state government’s watch?
The death of Biswajit Samanta is not just a tragic incident, it is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by patients in public hospitals.
As protests grow louder and families demand justice, one question remains unanswered: How many more lives will be lost before accountability is fixed and systemic reforms are implemented?
