An 18-year-old accident victim who was admitted to a private hospital in Ranchi for a fractured leg died during treatment, and his family says a hospital bill of nearly Rs 16 lakh followed his death, a case that has now triggered a political storm in Jharkhand and instant orders for a probe from the state government.
How a fractured leg turned fatal
Raju Kumar Ranjan, 18, was injured in a road accident and admitted to a private hospital in Ranchi on May 24. His family says he had suffered a leg fracture and nothing more serious at the time of admission, but during the course of treatment an infection set in and spread, and his condition kept deteriorating until he eventually died while still under the hospital's care. The family alleges that delayed or inadequate care allowed the infection to take hold, and that this negligence is what ultimately cost him his life. What troubles the family most is that an injury that should have been treatable turned fatal because of what they call sheer carelessness.
An Rs 18 lakh bill, Rs 10 lakh from insurance, the rest out of pocket
Once the treatment ended, the hospital handed the family a bill of close to Rs 18 lakh. Of this, Rs 10 lakh was paid directly to the hospital by the insurance company, while the remaining amount was arranged and paid by the family itself. Even after that payment, around Rs 2.5 lakh remained outstanding, and a dispute broke out between the hospital and the family over this balance, a dispute serious enough that it spilled into an uproar on the hospital premises and turned the case into a public matter.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren orders an inquiry, four-member team formed
As the case gathered political heat, Chief Minister Hemant Soren ordered an investigation. On the Chief Minister's instructions, the Deputy Commissioner directed a full inquiry into the case, following which the district administration constituted a four-member investigation team. The Civil Surgeon's office added Dr. S. Ali and Dr. Rajeev Ranjan to the team to examine the medical aspects of the case, while the district administration placed two of its own officials on the panel as well. Civil Surgeon Dr. Prabhat Kumar said the team began examining treatment-related documents, medical records, the treatment process, the role of hospital management, and the family's allegations starting Saturday. The report will be submitted directly to the Deputy Commissioner, and further action will depend on its findings.
Video goes viral, questions raised over the healthcare system
The case also spread widely on social media. A user named Rajat Pandey shared a video related to the hospital on July 4, alleging that the patient had a leg fracture and that hospital staff failed to change his dressing for two to three days, allowing the infection to spread through his body. The post described the episode as a picture of the country's fragile healthcare system and questioned the push toward privatisation of hospitals.
Hospital pushes back, says injuries were far more serious
The hospital management has rejected all the allegations made by the family. It says the patient was not suffering from just a leg fracture, but also had a severe head injury, a fracture in the spine, and serious injuries to both lungs. According to the hospital, doctors had recommended amputating the leg four days before the death to save the patient's life, but the family did not give permission for the procedure. The hospital also claims it has already handed over all medical records and the necessary documents to the government investigation team.
BJP MLA Sita Soren calls the hospital a den of loot
The case has also taken on a political dimension. BJP MLA Sita Soren posted on social media on July 4, describing the hospital as a den of loot and alleging that the family was charged anywhere between Rs 16 lakh and Rs 22 lakh for the treatment of what she called a minor fracture, before the 18-year-old lost his life. She called the episode outright robbery rather than treatment, criticised what she described as the unchecked and insensitive conduct of private hospitals in the state, and demanded that the hospital's licence be cancelled and strict action taken against those responsible.
Health Minister promises action against the guilty
State Health Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari has said that strict action will be taken against whoever is found guilty in the investigation. For now, the accounts given by the family and by the hospital management are starkly at odds with each other, and the real picture in this case will only become clear once the investigation report is submitted.
