Man, reported to be in a coma has emerged from the ICU, revealing an alleged hospital scam worth Rs 1 lakh in Madhya Pradesh
Man, reported to be in a coma has emerged from the ICU, revealing an alleged hospital scam worth Rs 1 lakh in Madhya Pradesh
Ninama was admitted to the hospital following injuries sustained during a violent clash between two groups on Sunday night.
In Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, a man has alleged that he was restrained in a private hospital while his family was coerced into paying Rs 1 lakh for what seems to have been an unwarranted treatment. The hospital staff had declared him to be in a coma, but he managed to leave the ICU independently, revealing what is now being described as a case of medical malpractice.
A report from the Free Press Journal reveals that Banti Ninama, who lives in Deendayal Nagar, was hospitalized following injuries sustained in a fight. His family received the alarming news that he suffered a serious spinal fracture and had fallen into a coma, necessitating urgent and costly medical care. Concerned for his survival, his wife and mother rushed to gather the substantial funds needed, reaching out to friends and relatives for loans.
Ninama reported that five hospital staff members physically restrained him while they coerced his family for money. In a bid to escape, he took advantage of a moment and managed to exit the ICU, exposing the purported scam.
Ninama was admitted to the hospital following injuries sustained during a violent clash between two groups on Sunday night. Despite being referred to Indore for more specialized care, his family chose to take him to GD Hospital instead.
“They told us he had a spinal fracture and had fallen into a coma. They handed us prescriptions, and we bought everything they asked for. Then, they told us to pay Rs 1 lakh for the treatment. We had to beg our relatives for money. We ran from one place to another and finally managed to gather the amount,” says Ninama’s wife.
“As soon as I regained consciousness, I asked to see my family. I repeated my request twice, and one of the hospital staff, a woman, gave me two options – either they would call a doctor in front of me or allow me to contact my family. I chose to call my family, but instead, a doctor arrived and sternly ordered me to stay put. My hands and legs were restrained, and they used force against me,” says Ninama.
The startling disclosure has ignited a wave of anger, leading many to scrutinize the ethical practices of private hospitals. A significant number of social media users are calling for more stringent regulations.
“Private hospitals need regulation and ethics classes… doctors are becoming extortionists and blackmailers,” said one user. The other user wrote, “ask the government to facilitate a good government hospital, simple—automatically private hospital prices will slow down.”
The hospital administration asserted that Ninama was admitted to the ICU and started creating a disturbance just two hours after his arrival. They stated that his total expenses, which included medication and other fees, reached Rs 8,000, thereby rejecting Ninama’s allegations as unfounded.
Following the video’s widespread circulation, the Chief Medical and Health Officer, under the direction of the District Collector, established a three-member committee to investigate the matter. While the committee did visit the hospital, the inquiry is still ongoing, as Ninama’s family transferred him to Indore for additional treatment before officials had the chance to gather their testimonies.
