22 May,2025 08:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
Ramdas Ambekar was admitted to Kandivli’s Shatabdi Hospital on April 13
A serious case of alleged medical negligence has surfaced at the government-run Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivli, where a 60-year-old deaf and mute patient, Ramdas Ambekar, died after suffering severe injuries from a fall in the hospital bathroom. The incident occurred shortly after his admission on the night of April 13 for breathing difficulties.
He was scheduled to undergo surgery on May 21, but passed away the day before on May 20 at 4.45 pm. According to sources, Ambekar sustained a deep head injury, a spinal fracture near the waist, and a dislocated leg due to the fall. Although he remained hospitalised for over a month, his family claims he was not given timely or appropriate treatment.
Family alleges negligence
Ambekar, a resident of Malwani in Malad, lived with his differently-abled wife, daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild. His daughter, Sakshi Ambekar, works in the private sector, while her husband is a transport driver. On April 13, Ambekar complained of breathing problems. With Sakshi and her husband away at the time, neighbours rushed him to Shatabdi Hospital, where the on-duty medical officer admitted him due to the seriousness of his condition. Sakshi, informed by neighbours, reached the hospital immediately and later informed her husband, who was in Solapur.
ALSO READ
Senior resident doctors may go on strike for better pay
She left on an airplane, returned on a stretcher
Dahisar: Clash between vendors turns hostile; leaves three dead and two injured
Mumbai runs disaster drills, but Govandi’s Shatabdi Hospital has no ICU
Mumbai: Senior citizen killed as truck hits her while she was crossing the road
Sakshi Ambekar
"My father was admitted to the men's ward. Since no male family member could hear or speak, I requested the doctors to allow me to stay with him, but they refused," said Sakshi. "Later, when I inquired about his condition, the doctor told me he was stable. Like other patients' relatives, I waited outside in the passage. Around 4.30 am, the doctor called me and informed me that my father had fallen in the bathroom and sustained injuries. He even scolded me for not being with him. I reminded him that I had requested to stay, but was denied," she added.
She alleged that after the fall, her father was bleeding from the head and was placed on a ventilator, with only cotton applied to the wound initially. "The doctors didn't stitch the wound immediately because no staff was available to clean his hair. It was only around 11 am, when the cleaning staff arrived, that his hair was cleaned and stitches were administered," she claimed.
Refused written referral
"To my shock, a doctor later suggested we shift my father to a better-equipped hospital, as Shatabdi lacked modern facilities. I asked for a written referral and the necessary documents to transfer him to Nair Hospital. The doctor refused and instead told me to write a note stating I was taking him at my own risk," Sakshi recounted.
She also stated that the Kandivli police contacted her and asked her to sign a document. "I accused the hospital of negligence, but they did not take my statement seriously."
Later, she approached Shyam Jhalke, founder of the Bahujan Injustice Atrocity Eradication Action Committee, who intervened and spoke with both hospital authorities and the police. On the advice of a senior officer, Sakshi filed a written complaint on April 18 demanding action against the hospital. However, no action has been taken to date.
Delayed treatment
"My father received no treatment initially. It was only after pressure from Shyam Jhalke Sahab that the doctors conducted a CT scan and X-ray, which revealed a deep head injury and spinal fracture," said Sakshi.
Financial strain
The hospital allegedly demanded Rs 22,000 for surgery. The family, unable to afford the cost, sought help. Some supporters contributed a cheque of Rs 8000 in the hospital's name. Despite arrangements being made for the surgery scheduled the next day (Wednesday), Ambekar passed away the night before.
"If the hospital had referred him to a better-equipped facility like Nair in time, my father might still be alive. Shatabdi Hospital is responsible for his death. I demand that a case of medical negligence be filed and strict action taken against those responsible," Sakshi said.
NGO demands action
"I have never seen such negligence in any other hospital as I witnessed at Shatabdi," said Shyam Jhalke. "I repeatedly called the medical officer and the Dean, yet no one responded adequately. It appears human life has no value in their eyes. I will escalate this to higher authorities and ministers. I demand that police take Sakshi's complaint seriously and file a case against the responsible doctors so that no one else suffers a fate like Ambekar's," he added.
Hospital responds
"The patient was admitted in a breathless condition. After initial stabilisation, he sustained a hip fracture and head injury due to a fall in the bathroom. Surgery for the fracture was delayed because doctors detected clotting in his skull. Operating in such a condition could have been life-threatening. Therefore, the medical team continued to monitor him closely. Once he was deemed fit for surgery, a date was scheduled. However, the patient faced shorteness of breath last night and passed away," said Dr Ajay Gupta, Dean, Shatabdi Hospital.
"There are approximately 80 patients in the ward, cared for by three ward boys along with nursing staff. Many patients also have relatives staying with them. I spoke to the staff, and they informed me that no family member was present with this patient. Whenever assistance was needed, no one from the patient's side was available.
"It's possible that after feeling slightly better, the patient went to the bathroom without informing anyone, which led to the unfortunate incident." When asked whether it was common practice for doctors to ask family members to shift critically ill patients without providing official referrals, Dr Gupta said, "We shift such patients to bigger hospitals on our own." He dismissed the family's allegations as "baseless and not supported by facts."
