Hospital Negligence Claim Sparks Death

A serious allegation of medical negligence has emerged from Manikganj, where a 38-year-old mother of two, Monika Akhter, reportedly died following complications after an appendicitis operation at a private hospital in the Bus Stand area. The incident has triggered public outrage, a tense hospital siege by relatives, and renewed scrutiny of surgical practices at the facility.

According to family members, Monika Akhter, wife of Fulchan Mia from Jagir Kamardia in Manikganj Sadar Upazila, underwent surgery for appendicitis at United Hospital on the night of 13 May. Relatives allege that the operation was conducted without adequate pre-anaesthesia assessment or essential diagnostic investigations, raising concerns over whether proper surgical protocols were followed.

The surgery was performed with Dr Md Ziaur Rahman as the surgeon and Dr Nasim Uddin responsible for anaesthesia, as stated by family sources. Shortly after the procedure, Monika’s condition reportedly deteriorated rapidly. Her relatives claim she developed severe complications including blood clotting in the limbs, body cooling, and extreme weakness from the following morning.

Hospital authorities initially attempted to explain her deteriorating condition as either dengue fever or dehydration, according to family members. However, as her condition worsened, she was first transferred to Manikganj Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar for advanced care. Despite admission to the intensive care unit, she was declared dead at 4:22 pm on 15 May.

A medical certificate reportedly cited severe post-operative sepsis as the primary cause of death, followed by multi-organ complications including acute kidney failure, metabolic acidosis, coagulation disorders, and hypovolemic shock due to critical blood pressure drop.

Tension escalated on Friday evening when grieving relatives surrounded the hospital premises at around 7 pm, demanding accountability. Hospital Director Abu Rayhan Al Beruni Raja held multiple rounds of discussions with the agitated family members in an attempt to defuse the situation.

However, the hospital administration has rejected allegations of negligence. The director stated that all necessary investigations had been conducted at the Upazila-level hospital and that a fitness certificate had been issued prior to surgery. Regarding claims of missing pre-anaesthesia evaluation, he remarked that such matters were “handled by the doctors concerned”.

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This incident has revived public concern, particularly as similar allegations of anaesthesia-related negligence had previously surfaced at the same hospital following the death of another patient after a tonsil surgery last year. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether a formal investigation committee will be formed.