Patient dies after being given anaesthesia a day before surgery:Wife says nurse was on earphones during administering injection

A preliminary inquiry into the death of patient Devendra Pathak at Bundelkhand Medical College (BMC) in Sagar has revealed serious negligence. The investigation found that the anaesthesia injection, which was meant to be administered during surgery the following day to render the patient unconscious, was mistakenly given a day earlier through an IV line by the nurse on duty. The nurse was allegedly talking on Bluetooth earphones while administering the injection. Based on the preliminary findings, the college administration has suspended nurse Shikha Patle pending completion of the inquiry. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla has ordered a detailed investigation into the incident and directed strict action against the officials and staff found responsible. Condition Worsened Due to High-Risk Injection Devendra Pathak had been admitted to the ENT Department of BMC after developing a lump in his throat. He was scheduled to undergo a biopsy on June 13. A day earlier, on June 12, hospital staff asked the family to arrange the Atracurium Besylate injection that was to be used during the operation. It is alleged that the nurse on duty administered the injection to the patient through an IV line on the same day instead of waiting until the scheduled procedure. Breathing Became Difficult Immediately After Injection According to the family, the patient’s breathing became laboured within minutes of receiving the injection, and his heartbeat stopped. Doctors performed CPR for nearly 45 minutes before placing him on a ventilator. Although his condition improved slightly for some time, he died at around 6.30 am on June 23 while undergoing treatment. Wife said – Nurse was busy on mobile The deceased’s wife, Rita Pathak, lodged a complaint at Gopalganj Police Station seeking a fair investigation and action against those responsible. In her complaint, she alleged that the nurse was busy using her mobile phone and Bluetooth earphones while administering the injection, leading to the fatal lapse. College management said- Nurse suspended until investigation is complete College media in-charge Dr Vishal Bhadkariya said that, based on the family’s complaint and the findings of the preliminary inquiry, nurse Shikha Patle had been suspended. He said a post-mortem examination had been conducted, and investigations were underway by both the police and the college administration. Further action will be taken on the basis of the final inquiry report. Experts Say – Not Just Nurse, System Could Also Be at Fault According to an anaesthesia specialist from Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, if a nurse has even the slightest doubt about a medicine, it should never be administered without first confirming with the treating doctor or a senior nursing officer. Modern patient safety protocols describe this as the ‘Stop and Ask’ principle. Experts say it would not be sufficient to blame only the nurse. The incident also points to possible failures in medicine distribution, management of high-alert drugs, double verification procedures, supervision, staff training and the hospital’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Why is it Considered a High-Risk Injection? Timeline of the Case