30/10/2025
Rebuttal regarding the viral video on social media, accusing GMC, Kathua doctors of negligence.
A minor married female patient was brought to the Emergency Department of Government Medical College Hospital, Kathua, with a history of seizure at home approximately 30 minutes prior to arrival, whose actual age was 17 years where as attendants told the doctor on duty that she is 21 years.
On arrival, the medical team (both senior and junior doctors) immediately attended the patient. Her condition was extremely critical and her blood pressure was non-recordable at the time of presentation.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the senior doctor himself promptly secured intravenous (IV) access without waiting for paramedical assistance. Two IV lines were inserted and resuscitative treatment was initiated immediately. The senior doctor remained continuously beside the patient throughout the emergency management.
Given the suspicious nature of the presentation, the attendants were specifically questioned regarding any possible poison ingestion or snake bite, which they categorically denied. Despite this, in view of the unclear etiology, resuscitation and supportive treatment continued without interruption.
The patient’s attendants were updated every 15–20 minutes regarding her clinical status and at that time, they appeared satisfied with the progress and ongoing efforts.
Despite all medical interventions, the patient’s condition deteriorated over the next hour and she developed cardiac arrest in the Emergency Department.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated immediately and the first resuscitation attempt was briefly successful, but the patient again went into cardiac arrest. CPR was continued for approximately 90 minutes, but unfortunately, the patient could not be revived and was declared brought dead after all possible efforts.
In view of suspected poisoning (despite denial from the attendants), a postmortem examination was requested to confirm the cause of death.
Response to Allegations
Allegation 1: Patient was left unattended for two hours
Response:
This allegation is false. The CCTV surveillance system in the Emergency Department provides tamper-proof footage, which clearly shows that the senior doctor continuously attended the patient from the time of admission until the declaration of death.
Allegation 2: Wrong diagnosis and delay in identifying the cause
Response:
It is a well-known fact that in some circumstances, family members- especially in-laws may provide incomplete or misleading histories in sensitive medico-legal cases. Hence, despite their denial, poisoning (accidental or intentional) was kept as a differential diagnosis and gastric lavage was performed to remove any unabsorbed poison as a life-saving precaution.
Simultaneously, neurological causes such as stroke were considered because of the history of seizure. A CT scan of the brain was performed and found to be normal, ruling out hemorrhage at that stage (as early CT in stroke can be normal).
Further, routine and emergency investigations were conducted immediately after arrival, which were normal.
These results helped rule out major metabolic, hematological or hepatic-renal causes for the patient’s presentation.
To further differentiate between poisoning and neurological causes, a postmortem examination was conducted as per standard protocol.
False statements by patient’s in-laws to social media against the medical team are deeply disheartening, especially when all possible professional and ethical measures were taken to save the patient’s life.
The GMC Kathua medical team worked diligently and continuously to stabilize the patient, providing emergency care as per standard medical protocols.
We remain committed to providing round-the-clock emergency medical care (24×7) with integrity, compassion and professionalism.
