Canacona
The Goa Forward Party has accused doctors at three different hospitals of medical negligence leading to the death of retired educationist, folk artiste and social worker Nanda Satarkar (71). Briefing the sequence of events, Naik said Satarkar was bitten by a snake outside his house in Loliem at about 6 am on August 30.
“By about 8.30 am, his leg had swollen, and he went to the Canacona CHC, where a nurse attended to him in the absence of a doctor. On arrival, a doctor conducted some tests and declined to give a snake venom antiserum injection, claiming it could cause side effects if the bite was not from a venomous snake,” said Naik.
“The CHC then shifted Satarkar to the South Goa District Hospital in Margao at 12 noon, where he was given an antibiotic injection and a saline drip but was refused the snake venom antiserum injection.”
“As Satarkar’s condition deteriorated, he was shifted to GMC Hospital on August 31. Doctors conducted some tests and scans, and by night, he was shifted to the ICU. On September 4, his condition became critical, and by night, doctors informed relatives that he had died due to cardiac arrest,” Naik added.
Naik told media persons that the family had already reported the matter to Sports Minister and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar.
“We are living in an age where medicines are available even for the deadliest snake bites, and it is unacceptable that a man who walked into the hospital with a snake bite ended up with his body being taken from the hospital to his home,” said Naik.
“The family and we demand accountability for this medical negligence by the doctors concerned at all three hospitals. Our party chief Vijai Sardesai will also be apprised of this serious matter.”
Satarkar was a retired teacher who had also served as secretary of Nirakar Education Society, Mashem-Loliem for three decades; director at the Loliem Urban Co-operative Society; and president of Gopalkrishna Mandir at Agas-Loliem. Satarkar was also a well-known social worker and folk artiste from Canacona.
