painkiller

Leena Kotera

Deepak Kadambi

diagnostic centre

injection

Buscopan

Hysterosalpingogram

Vijaya Diagnostic Centre

HOSPITAL REACTION

A woman is alleged to have reacted adversely to awhich, city doctors vouch, has a history of being ‘safe’A couple married for four years was all set to start their parenthood but would have least expected their life will take such a tragic turn. Tuesday mid-afternoon started quite relaxedly for the couple as, 34, was due for her last of the many tests for a fertility-related treatment; all the other tests before that were encouraging., 37, her college mate she got married to, dropped her off at ain Indiranagar at 3.45 pm promising to pick her up as soon as the test was over. Nearly 40 minutes later, he got a call from the diagnostic centre front desk and was informed that his wife had suffered a severe cardiac arrest and was critical. Twenty minutes after that, she was declared dead.Death in a diagnostic centre, where by-and-large routine and innocuous tests are conducted, is unheard of. "It was supposed to be a medical test on a normal person and not a complicated surgery, we are a bit shocked how a person died in a diagnostic centre" was the talk among city's medical fraternity this weekend.Leena seems to have reacted adversely to ancalled Buscopan, a painkiller that is administered intravenously and that relaxes the muscles in the gut wall. Several doctors, not connected with the case and whose independent opinion we sought, termedas a safe drug and hence this comes to them as a shock. Many doctors in the city say that it is often given for relieving pain and there is barely any literature about deaths from Buscopan.In this case, Kadambi, who is the head of marketing with a Japanese multinational company, told Bangalore Mirror, “After four years of marriage, Leena and I consulted a gynaecologist at a fertility centre in Indiranagar. We were asked to undergo a series of tests. We did that; everything was normal. One last test called(HSG) was due which the same clinic did not have the provision to do. So we had to go toin Indiranagar to do the test since it was very close to our house.”An HSG test is an X-ray test that looks at the inside of the uterus and fallopian tubes and the area around them to see if everything is normal and suitable for pregnancy. The sequence of events, according to Kadambi, was: “We were told that since the procedure was painful she was given Buscopan. When I reached there, the gynaecologist who was supposed to do the test told me that the cardiac arrest was a result of an adverse effect of this painkiller. The reaction started soon after this painkiller was given and they tried to revive her. She also told me that she did not administer the drug and it was the nurse who did it while she was getting ready for the procedure. Since the hospital did not have the required facility to treat a patient during a cardiac arrest, she was taken to Axon Hospital which was across the road from the clinic and the doctors there declared her brought dead.”He said: “We are aware that allergic reactions could happen, but to prevent this, they need to test first if the patient is allergic to it or not. In this case, they clearly told me that they did not test it on her and said that a small dosage was given.”The body has been sent to Bowring Hospital for a post-mortem and the report is supposed to be out in six days. Meanwhile, a complaint has been registered against the diagnostic centre at Indiranagar police station under Section 304 (a) for medical negligence. Kadambi said, “The painkiller is known to have severe side effects which could also result in a cardiac arrest and epileptic attack which is why it is first required to be given at a sub-dermal or a subcutaneous level to see if the person develops adverse side effects or not. But in this case, it was clearly not given. The exact dosage that was given is also not mentioned anywhere. What was appalling was that during those golden minutes, the diagnostic centre did not have a proper doctor who could look into the cardiac arrest and she was instead rushed to the nearby hospital.”Leena, who is a senior architect with a Singapore-based firm, did not have any previous history of diabetes or blood pressure. Post complaint, the police have gone to the hospital and have seized the vial samples.Her last rites were performed in Coorg on Friday.After her death, Kadambi has moved out of his house on 80 ft road in Indiranagar. “She used to paint a lot and the house is filled with her paintings. Every nook and corner of that house reminds me of her. So I have moved to my mother’s house in JP Nagar.” Kadambi is determined to fight the case. “I will ensure that the diagnostic centre has to pay the price for its inefficiency and mismanagement.”Indiranagar police who are investigating into the case said, “We have received a complaint alleging diagnostic centre staff’s negligence as the cause of death. The body was subjected to post mortem and we are waiting for the report to act further.”She came to us for a fertility test which is a routine procedure and we cannot predict what can cause anaphylactic reaction. As soon as she developed an allergy, we tried to revive her and since ours is a diagnostic centre, we do not take inpatients. We do not have an ICU. We took her to the nearby hospital so that her treatment could be better.- Kaushik, in-charge manager, Vijaya Diagnostic Centre