Mistaken for an Afghan, man dies after assault
MID-DAY (OCT 2001)
By Skimmy Gupta
A fifty-year-old watchman, who said he was beaten up after being mistaken for an Afghan, died yesterday after a 40-hour wait for treatment in the garden of Cooper Hospital. His family alleges that negligence on the part of the hospital's doctors was a prime cause of the death.
Yusuf Habib Syed's trials began long before his family and neighbours brought him to Cooper on Saturday, according to some of his own last words. A resident of Prem Nagar, Irla, Juhu Scheme, he had set of on September 11 on a pilgrimage to Ajmer. Returning on Saturday, he told his family he was mistaken for an Afghan there and mercilessly beaten. A large quantity of acid was thrown on his arms and he suffered multiple injuries all over his body, he said.
Syed's neighbours at Irla, Bharat Ganpat Yadav and Srirang Waghmare, and his wife Farida (32), rushed him to Cooper on Saturday itself. But they allege the doctors there wouldn't admit him because his wounds were severe, some even having worms in them.
Yadav said, "The doctors refused to admit him saying the wounds were very bad and could disturb the other patients in the ward. They told us to take him outside to the garden and said they would attend to him in time. That whole night nobody turned up. The next morning we again tried to get some doctor's help, as Syed's condition was worsening, but we were again refused admission.
"At that point we requested them to at least give us one stretcher so that he could be saved from rats, flies and mosquitoes in the garden. Some of the wounds had begun smelling, but nobody bothered. We gave him medicines and other treatment on our own in the garden."
Yusuf Habib Syeds medicine lying near the spot in the Cooper Hospital garden where he died yesterday
Syed finally died in the garden at 3.30 pm yesterday. Raju Paswan and other residents of Prem Nagar, Irla, are very angry that when he needed treatment, nobody cared, but after he died his body was immediately rushed off for a postmortem. The residents allege that the hospital just wants to clear the official papers with regard to Syed's death.
Farida, in a state of shock, said, "This is the destiny and plight of poor people. Now, when my husband is no more, doctors are taking care of his dead body and the postmortem." Syed is survived by his wife and four children. He was a watchman for a building on Road No 1 at Juhu Scheme.
When contacted, Dr. Israni, chief medical officer on duty, Cooper Hospital, said, "Dr. Choudhary is the best one to comment on this case." Dr. A R Choudhary, assistant medical officer, asked this correspondent to visit the hospital. However, on visiting there, nobody knew where Choudhary was or when he would return. When he was again contacted by phone, he shouted, "Humko aur bhi kaam hain. Is ek aadmi ke liye nahin baithe hain."
Cooper Hospital's medical superintendent was unavailable for comment.
MID-DAY (OCT 2001)
By Skimmy Gupta
A fifty-year-old watchman, who said he was beaten up after being mistaken for an Afghan, died yesterday after a 40-hour wait for treatment in the garden of Cooper Hospital. His family alleges that negligence on the part of the hospital's doctors was a prime cause of the death.
Yusuf Habib Syed's trials began long before his family and neighbours brought him to Cooper on Saturday, according to some of his own last words. A resident of Prem Nagar, Irla, Juhu Scheme, he had set of on September 11 on a pilgrimage to Ajmer. Returning on Saturday, he told his family he was mistaken for an Afghan there and mercilessly beaten. A large quantity of acid was thrown on his arms and he suffered multiple injuries all over his body, he said.
Syed's neighbours at Irla, Bharat Ganpat Yadav and Srirang Waghmare, and his wife Farida (32), rushed him to Cooper on Saturday itself. But they allege the doctors there wouldn't admit him because his wounds were severe, some even having worms in them.
Yadav said, "The doctors refused to admit him saying the wounds were very bad and could disturb the other patients in the ward. They told us to take him outside to the garden and said they would attend to him in time. That whole night nobody turned up. The next morning we again tried to get some doctor's help, as Syed's condition was worsening, but we were again refused admission.
"At that point we requested them to at least give us one stretcher so that he could be saved from rats, flies and mosquitoes in the garden. Some of the wounds had begun smelling, but nobody bothered. We gave him medicines and other treatment on our own in the garden."
Yusuf Habib Syeds medicine lying near the spot in the Cooper Hospital garden where he died yesterday
Syed finally died in the garden at 3.30 pm yesterday. Raju Paswan and other residents of Prem Nagar, Irla, are very angry that when he needed treatment, nobody cared, but after he died his body was immediately rushed off for a postmortem. The residents allege that the hospital just wants to clear the official papers with regard to Syed's death.
Farida, in a state of shock, said, "This is the destiny and plight of poor people. Now, when my husband is no more, doctors are taking care of his dead body and the postmortem." Syed is survived by his wife and four children. He was a watchman for a building on Road No 1 at Juhu Scheme.
When contacted, Dr. Israni, chief medical officer on duty, Cooper Hospital, said, "Dr. Choudhary is the best one to comment on this case." Dr. A R Choudhary, assistant medical officer, asked this correspondent to visit the hospital. However, on visiting there, nobody knew where Choudhary was or when he would return. When he was again contacted by phone, he shouted, "Humko aur bhi kaam hain. Is ek aadmi ke liye nahin baithe hain."
Cooper Hospital's medical superintendent was unavailable for comment.
Labels: City
posted by Skimmy @ January 12, 2009
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