More than 70 defenseless patients were burnt or suffocated to death today after a fire broke out at the Advanced Medicare Research Institute (AMRI), a top-rated private hospital in South Kolkata. It is obvious that the hospital did not have adequate preventive measures to tackle an accidental fire. PBT has submitted a memorandum to the Bengal chief minister and health minister, Ms. Mamta Banerjee, seeking a transparent investigation and criminal prosecution of reckless members of the hospital administration. PBT has also demanded immediate compensation of Rs. 50 lakh for each family of the patients who have died and Rs. 20 lakh for those who are injured. Ironically, this is the same hospital where US-based child psychologist Anuradha Saha, wife of PBT’s founding-president Dr. Kunal Saha, fell prey to gross medical negligence during a social visit to India in 1998. On October 21, 2011, the National Consumer Forum (NCDRC) awarded a compensation of Rs. 1.7 crore, highest in Indian medical history, against the AMRI Hospital and three other Kolkata doctors.
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I will request to upload the ‘memorandum’ submitted to CM for follow-up action by members of PBT and other social activists.
Rgds
Regular inquiry abt safety norms and treatment procedures of all the hospitals be done regularly, here they are totally uncontrolled/unchecked. Have got licence to KILL without any accountability and inquiry.
Unfortunate victims of Corrupt Lawless Nation!!!!
I am the founding webmaster of PBT.
I think PBT should file a PIL in Calcutta High Court on two issues:
1. Why the FIR filed against the AMRI hopsital should not be converted from Section 304 to 302 of CrPC. The case is not just a fire but because of the intentional delay of over two hours in informing the Fire Brigade, forceful confinement of Patients within the hospital when the fire was already on. Because of these the FIR should be converted or Fresh FIR filed by Govt. of WB under 302. 304 is bailable.
2. As the private parties managing the AMRI have done a breech of contract under many clauses, the Govt. of WB can take over/confiscate the entire Hospital and if necessary by passing an Ordinance. And this should be done immediately then the WB Govt can run the hospital with some selected staff and the machineries will be OK. The staff can be on renewable contract for two years and any staff whose contract will be renewed 10 times will get retirement benefits too. This will also save the job of many employees. Although the entire property of AMRI private authorities should also be confiscated.