No format to record oxygen shortage deaths: Hospitals

As the political row over Covid-19 deaths due to oxygen shortage continued, hospital representatives have said there was no proforma given by Indian Council of Medical Research to record such deaths and no means to record them separately.

Doctors handling Covid-19 patients told ET that during the second Covid-19 wave, the health infrastructure was overwhelmed, and it was an “unprecedented situation” where the medical fraternity witnessed beds and oxygen running out.

“Hospitals saw a unique situation. We could have never imagined that a hospital could run out of oxygen. But we did. At such a time, we follow set procedures. ICMR guidelines on reporting of death specify how to classify deaths in 7-8 categories. There is no classification for reporting deaths due to oxygen shortage. It is also because we have never witnessed such a situation,” Batra Hospital medical director SCL Gupta told ET. The hospital reported 12 deaths, including that of its own senior doctor, on May 1 due to shortage of oxygen. Gupta said they were recorded as Covid deaths.

“We were recording deaths as Covid-19 or non-Covid-19 deaths. This was the practice nationwide. We were no different. Had the government asked us, we would have reported oxygen shortage deaths,” he said. Gupta explained that different categories have been spelt out and how to code and certify deaths. For example, if it is a confirmed Covid-19 patient with comorbidities like heart disease, then it is a clear Covid-19 death and immediate cause of death could be respiratory acidosis or respiratory distress, pneumonia or cardiac arrest. “If the government conducts an audit right now, they would still be able to find out about oxygen shortage deaths. If asked for our details, we will give the number as 12 such deaths,” he said.

Jaipur Golden Hospital had 21 deaths on April 23 after oxygen shortage. The hospital, however, has denied the deaths followed oxygen shortage. When contacted, medical director DK Baluja and proprietor Vikram Bahri refused to comment. However, hospital insiders told ET that since the controversy erupted, relatives of dead patients have formed a group and were contemplating a class action suit. “Any comment could leave the hospital liable to claims of medical negligence. The responsibility of ensuring oxygen supplies is part of hospital administration and allowing patients to die because of shortage could be classified as negligence,” a doctor at the hospital, who did not wish to be identified, told ET.