Family alleges hospital staff refused admission despite critical condition, incident sparks outrage over patient care in government hospitals
Serious allegations of medical negligence have emerged from Koppal in Karnataka, where a woman was reportedly left unattended on a stretcher in the corridor of Koppal District Hospital for nearly 11 hours without receiving treatment.
According to reports, the woman, identified as Huligemma, is a resident of Chikkabommanal village. She had recently returned home after undergoing treatment for a spinal injury at KIMS Hospital Hubballi.
Patient Rushed to Hospital After Blood Pressure Dropped
Late on Wednesday night, around 11 PM, the woman’s blood pressure suddenly dropped, prompting her family members to rush her to the district hospital for emergency medical care.
However, relatives alleged that hospital staff refused to admit the patient, forcing the critically ill woman to remain on a stretcher in the hospital corridor throughout the night without any medical attention.
Admitted After Nearly 11 Hours
It was only the following morning, around 10 AM on Thursday, that Huligemma was finally admitted to the hospital’s emergency ward—nearly 11 hours after her arrival.
The incident has sparked outrage among the patient’s relatives, who accused doctors and hospital staff of failing in their duty and neglecting a critically ill patient.
Public Outrage Over Treatment in Government Hospitals
The case has also drawn strong reactions from the public, with many questioning the quality of patient care in government hospitals.
Residents said that most patients visiting district hospitals come from economically weaker backgrounds, and timely treatment is often their only hope. Leaving a woman suffering from a spinal injury and low blood pressure outside the ward overnight, they said, reflects serious lapses in the healthcare system.
Several people also alleged that government hospitals are increasingly behaving like private institutions, showing high-handedness and indifference toward poor patients.
Authorities Expected to Take Action
Following the incident, attention has now turned to the District Health Officer, who is expected to review the matter and take appropriate action if negligence is confirmed.
The case comes amid growing scrutiny over treatment standards in public hospitals. Earlier, another incident involving alleged negligence at a government hospital had surfaced, where a patient’s attendant claimed that a doctor was talking on the phone while the patient struggled to breathe in the emergency ward, allegedly contributing to the patient’s death.
Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the latest incident in Koppal District Hospital and determine whether medical negligence occurred.
