Refused ventilator in hospital COVID-19 patient alleges medical negligence, records video before death

A COVID-19 patient at Government Chest Hospital in Hyderabad died after doctors allegedly refused to put him on ventilator support.  In a video, which was filmed by the patient at the isolation ward of the hospital before he died, and was addressed to his father, 35-year-old V Ravikumar said doctors did not provide him with a ventilator even after he complained of breathing problem. “I have been pleading with them to put me on a ventilator for the last three hours. I am struggling to breathe and feel like my heart has stopped. They are not listening to me. They are not putting me on a ventilator,” he said.

Ravikumar was admitted to the hospital with fever and breathlessness on June 24. While his swab samples were collected on the same day, the results were awaited. He passed away two days later. The laboratory report on June 27 confirmed that he was positive for the viral infection. The hospital authorities however  said the allegations were baseless and maintained that the patient passed away after developing myocarditis. In the video, Ravikumar can be seen with nasal prongs for supply of oxygen. “He was a suspected Covid patient. We admitted him to the isolation ward and put him on oxygen supply. His saturation levels were maintained. Unfortunately, he developed myocarditis and this led to a sudden collapse of the heart. That is what happened in his case,” the superintendent told Indian Express. A video of him complaining about the lack of attention and no ventilator support was shared by his family.