Silchar Patient Death at South City Hospital Draws Negligence Allegations and Police Response
A diabetic patient died at South City Hospital in Silchar on the night of 11 October, sparking a confrontation between his family and hospital management. The family of Samir Uddin Laskar, a resident of Kashipur in Cachar district, alleges staff withheld news of his death and discarded blood they had arranged at the hospital's request. The hospital has denied all charges, and police responded to the scene to control the situation.
Family Alleges Hospital Withheld Death News for Hours
Tension broke out at South City Hospital in Silchar on the night of Sunday, 11 October, after the death of Samir Uddin Laskar, a resident of Kashipur in Cachar district. The patient had diabetes and had recently consulted a doctor before his condition deteriorated and he was admitted to the hospital. His family accused hospital authorities and staff of deliberately failing to inform them about his condition and alleged that he may have died several hours before they were finally permitted to see him. During that period, the family said they were left with the belief that he was alive and still receiving treatment inside the Intensive Care Unit. The hospital categorically denied these allegations. Management stated that the family had in fact been informed that Samir was in a critical condition and that ventilator support had been recommended and explained to them. However, the hospital claimed the family itself had refused this intervention, complicating their account of the events. The incident created considerable tension on the hospital premises, with family members and local residents gathering and expressing anger over what they described as a serious failure of communication and duty of care by the hospital staff and administration. [1]
Blood Mishandling Allegations Prompt Family to Demand Independent Inquiry
Beyond the delayed death notification, the family of Samir Uddin raised a separate allegation about blood arranged for his treatment. They stated that hospital personnel had specifically instructed the family to procure blood, which they duly did, making the necessary arrangements under considerable stress. However, the family alleged that this blood was subsequently found lying unused at the hospital and was later discarded by staff, which they described as a serious misuse and disrespect. The family also accused hospital security personnel and other authorities of behaving improperly and aggressively when they approached staff seeking updates on Samir's condition. These combined grievances created a volatile and tense atmosphere at the hospital, with family members and community residents expressing visible and sustained anger at the perceived lapses. Police personnel arrived after being informed of the confrontation and took up positions at the hospital to restore order. The family has since formally demanded an impartial and independent investigation covering three specific matters: the precise circumstances surrounding Samir Uddin's death, the alleged failure to communicate his death in a timely manner, and the handling and ultimate disposal of the blood they had procured. The allegations had not been independently verified at the time of reporting. [6]
Sources: [1] Barak Bulletin · [6] India Today NE