Shocking! Rat bit coma patient's eye at Mumbai's civic hospital; family alleges, authorities denies calling it a 'conspiracy'

In a shocking case of medical negligence, a comatose patient eye was allegedly nibbled by a rat at the Civic hospital in Mumbai. The Civic hospital run in the name of Shiv Sena late chief Bal Thackeray named Bal Thackeray Trauma Care Hospital in Mumbai's Jogeshwari. The incident took place a week ago when the patient named Parminder Gupta was shifted to general ward from the ICU for a couple of days.

The father of 27-year-old Parminder alleges that rats bit the right eyelid of his son. The patient's condition is critical at present, says report.

Talking to ANI, the father of the patient said,”We saw blood over his eye in the morning. We had seen rats in the general ward earlier, but we didn’t witness the incident. He was admitted to the hospital with a blood clot in the brain, following a road accident.”

Meanwhile, the hospital authorities denied the allegations, claiming it as a conspiracy to malign hospital's reputation. “Rat infestation is a problem in the hospital but no such incident took place. We checked the patient but didn’t find any bite marks. An ophthalmologist too checked for injuries in the eye but nothing was visible”, Medical superintendent Dr HS Bawa told Times of India.

A senior doctor said, "This is not the first time his relatives saw rats on his head. As his eyes always remain half-open, it is easier for the rats to bite. And since he is in a coma, he couldn't even shout. Thankfully, his relatives checked on him," said the doctor.

Adding insult to Parvinder's injury, the staff also allegedly threatened his cousin when she wanted to file a complaint. "My brother's lower eyeball has been completely eaten by a rat. It has developed a dent. When I expressed my desire to file a complaint, the medical staffers began threatening me. I wasn't misbehaving or dancing for them to scare me with the presence of CCTV in the hospital. I went twice to the medical officer to file a complaint, but they didn't take it," said Shikha Gupta, Parvinder's cousin.

Parminder was hospitalized after a road accident. Two months ago, following a brain surgery to remove a blot clot, he went into a coma. His family spent 10 lakh rupees for his treatment in Thane after which he was referred to civic-run hospital. As the family of Gupta was not in condition to bear the cost of the treatment at the private hospital.

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