The Health Ministry on Friday, 10 July ordered the replacement of Medical Superintendent of AIIMS, Delhi after a 37-year-old COVID-19 positive journalist, Tarun Sisodiya, allegedly ended his life at the hospital on Monday.
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that he has directed for an expert committee be constituted to suggest suitable changes in administration, for AIIMS as well as JPNATC. He has also asked for a report regarding the same by 27 July.
Sisodiya had reportedly jumped off the fourth floor of the hospital, following which he was shifted to the ICU in critical condition and subsequently succumbed to his injuries.
Following his death, AIIMS had released a statement and Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had issued a high-level inquiry that is to submit a report within 48 hours.
Harsh Varshan on Friday said that the 4-member inquiry committee, constituted to examine the suicide of Sisodiya did not find any malafide intent in his death or any lapses in the treatment protocol.
In his last messages to his colleagues the journalist had said that he may be murdered, India Today reported.
‘I Maybe Murdered’
The journalist worked with a Hindi daily and was a resident of northeast Delhi’s Bhajanpura, India Today reported. Ever since his death, there has been speculation around the nature of his death. According to a WhatsApp group chat that is being circulated on social media, Sisodia is said to have feared he could be murdered a few days ago.
Several journalists have called for an investigation into his death. A demonstration was organised for this on 7 July, a day after his death, outside the Press Club. The posters read ‘We demand judicial inquiry” and “justice for Tarun.”
The AIIMS statement states that Sisodia was “having bouts of disorientation” for which he was being seen by a psychiatrist and neurologist.
AIIMS Statement on Sisodia’s Death
On the same day, the Media Protocol Division of AIIMS issued a release explaining the circumstances of his death. They said that the 37-year-old journalist was admitted on 24 June with COVID-19.
“He was making significant recovery from his COVID symptoms. He was stable on room air today and was planned for shifting to general ward from the ICU,” the statement read. On the medical history of Sosodia, the release said that he had earlier had a surgery for frontal lobe meningioma (a type of brain tumor).
While he was in for treatment of COVID-19, he was having bouts of disorientation for which he was seen by neurologist and psychiatrist and put on medication, the hospital said.
Speaking about the particular day, the release said, “At around 1:55 pm today, Mr Tarun ran out of TC-1 where he was admitted. Hospital attendants ran after him and tried to stop him. Mr Tarun ran to fourth floor where he broke a window pane and jumped out. He was immediately moved to the ICU in Trauma Centre in an ambulance.”
Sisodia succumbed to his injuries about an hour and a half later.
High-Level Inquiry
Harsh Vardhan expressed condolences and had ordered a high-level inquiry into the matter.
“It was a most unfortunate incident. I have no words to express my grief. My condolences to his whole family, esp his wife and young children. May God give them the strength to bear this irreparable loss (sic),” he tweeted.
The committee comprised of Chief of Neuroscience Centre Prof Padma, Head of Psychiatry Dept Prof RK Chaddha, Deputy Director (Admn) Shri Panda and Head of Physical Medicine & Rehab Dr U Singh.
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