DOCTOR ORDERS! MALE, FEMALE PATIENTS TO SHARE ONE STRETCHER

In another case of medical apathy, a male and female patient were forced to share a stretcher while being wheeled to the X-Ray room at the Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital in Indore.

This hospital is the largest state-run hospital in Madhya Pradesh.

According to Times of India report, the female patient has been identified as Sangeeta, who is a resident of Pandhana in Khandwa district. She had suffered a fracture in her right leg and had been admitted 12 days ago.

"My wife Sangeeta was admitted to orthopedic ward. Citing shortage of stretcher, she was taken for some medical examination with a male patient. We were helpless as we wanted to get our patient treated due to which we became ready to allow her and the male patient on the same bed," her husband, Dharmendra told media here.

Media reports further state thatwhen Sangeeta was asked why there were two patients on one stretcher, she said it was the doctor's order. She also admitted that the crowded stretcher is inconvenient.

After a video of the incident went viral, the Hospital's medical superintendent Dr PS Thakur served show cause notice to on-duty staff, including doctors, nurses and ward boys, and promised strict action, ToI further reported.

Dr Thakur also admitted there was a shortage of stretchers and other facilities.

Sangeeta's husband also claimed that the doctor on the duty demanded they visit him only during a given time, as he would not examine patients after close of business hours, media reports say.