This is with reference to the treatment given to my mother Smt. Suman Gupta at Fortis Hospital, Noida. I am writing this letter with immense sorrow and grief as my mother expired due to improper treatment carried out at Fortis Hospital, Noida. I would request you to set up an enquiry regarding treatment given to my mother as she died due to late diagnosis of sepsis. This is an unacceptable negligence on the part of doctors.
My mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the month of July 2015. Stenting was done to relieve obstruction. There was partial duodenum obstruction as seen by doctor but he didn’t put a stent into this. Then, she was put on First Line of treatment of Chemotherapy with Gemcitabine and Abraxane to which she tolerated well. Because she was healthy physically and mentally, she was doing well through this. After completion of two cycles, her PET scan test showed improvement in liver metastasis lesions which were barely discernible. There was a slight increase in lesion of pancreatic cancer. But she was in a healthy state. Oncology doctors, Dr Devavrat Arya and Dr Vikas Goswami reviewed the report and changed to second line of treatment of chemotherapy with high dose of Capacitabine and Oxiplatin. As soon as the chemo drug regime was infused to my mother, she complained of vomiting and nausea to her which doctors told is a side-effect of the drugs. After a discharge, she arrived home. Since evening, symptoms of vomiting and nausea started increasing which was reported to Dr Namrata Varma who told to discontinue capacitabine. But the side-effects were so prominent that she was admitted on 28th September 2015 in Emergency at Fortis Hospital, Noida again.
Oncologists said that this is due to side effect of drug and previous stent has failed.
Again a stent was put by Dr Ajay Bhalla into Bile Duct and Duodenum which should have been done earlier itself. PTBD was done by Dr Deepak Hans to relieve symptoms as previous stenting failed. There was no co-ordination between Oncology -team doctors and Gastro-entrologist Team. Unfortunately, I have to run between them to coordinate though it was, obviously, not my job.
But since it was the matter of my mother I did everything I could do. My mother developed severe bacterial infection due to Rice tube, pigtail drain tube, central line, arterial line and chemoport insertion. This was not taken into account from starting but when infection became worsened, tests were conducted and high septicaemia was found against which high dose of antibiotics were given which was too late, later because of late treatment fungal infections got developed. They had a plan to remove all lines but it was a late decision. This was quite frustrating because infections could have been prevented if doctors have started treatment properly. When I used to consult Oncology-team doctors they used to tell me that they are dependent on Gastro-Entrologists team and vice-versa which delayed treatment. This was quite embarrassing. It was surprising that being reputed doctors at a reputed hospital, they did this.
Doctors planned to shift my mother to ICU for better treatment. But caring at ICU was not good. Many times I observed sisters did not kept an eye on vitals on monitor. Infact, they did not kept an eye on other patients. Attendants of whom used to discuss similar issues with me. My mother told me that in night, no sister was there when my mother asked water to drink.
Condition of ICU is not good. Water flasks were untidy and have foul smell which my mother told me which I found to be correct and showed to ICU doctors who told me to replace with bisleri bottle for her. Next day, again untidy flask was there. I told this to doctors and sisters but there was no change. When my mother was put on ventilator, I frequently observed that whenever there was urine discharge out of diaper it was not attended by sisters unless I observed and communicated same.
To my dismay, Dr Devavrat Arya and Dr Vikas Goswami took leaves in between without letting us know during the undergoing treatment. As a result of which proper review of medicines and health of my mother was compromised. This was when I was in regular touch with doctors, and they never care to tell when would take leaves.
Blood bank in Fortis Hospital, Noida is the worst ever department I have ever seen. They only release blood to patient only when you replace blood. In case replacement is not available they refused blood transfusion to my mother who was critically ill in ICU. God knows how I pleaded to others to donate blood in emergency case. Blood plasma was not available in Fortis Hospital Noida. Instead of arranging by themselves they asked me to go to Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh to collect blood plasma. At that time, she was on ventilator. It took me 7 hours to reach back. Every moment for bringing plasma to my mother was crucial. Alternatively they could have arranged blood plasma from themselves or could have asked me to purchase from nearest blood bank.
Overall, my mother did not die due to cancer but because of negligence by doctors, irresponsibility by doctors and non caring attitude by sisters at Fortis Hospital at Noida. Had the sepsis symptoms been detected timely and properly by doctors, my mother would have not died. This is a life-time repent felt for my dear mother. I feel utmost frustrated and angry over the negligence of doctors, one of whom accepted his mistake to me. My plan to shift my mother to another hospital was put in vain as her condition worsened because of late diagnosis and treatment of sepsis. Dr Ajay Bhalla, Dr Deepak Hans, Dr Devavrat Arya and Dr Vikas Goswami are the culprits who are responsible for my mother’s untimely death. I will never forgive them.