Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Geetanjali has accused Safdarjung Hospital of ‘illegal detention’. She said that the hospital did not give correct information on potassium level and now she has reached Delhi High Court to get her husband shifted to a private hospital.
New Delhi [भारत]July 19 (ANI): The patient’s potassium levels were clearly mentioned in the patient summary report shared yesterday with activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo, sources said on Sunday. It was also informed that the team of medical experts is continuously counseling both the patient and the family to ensure timely medical intervention and adherence to the recommended treatment protocols.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk was yesterday brought by Delhi Police to Safdarjung Hospital from Jantar Mantar, where she was on a hunger strike in support of the students’ protest against the “paper leak”. Geetanjali Angmo had earlier said in a post on X that she had “lost trust” in Safdarjung Hospital.
“The patient’s potassium levels were clearly mentioned in the patient summary report shared yesterday with Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Geetanjali Angmo,” a source said.
In a social media post this morning, Angmo alleged that the hospital neither shared the potassium values in writing nor included them in the health bulletin, sources said. He said that such talk during treatment is not conducive to the smooth management of the patient’s medical care.
Safdarjung Hospital had earlier said that Wangchuk, 59, was admitted to VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital at 7:40 am on July 18 after being brought by Delhi Police. The hospital said that at the time of admission, he was conscious and his pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation were stable, although mucosal dryness and reduced skin elasticity were found.
The hospital said, “Blood gas analysis revealed compensated acidosis with decreased serum potassium of 2.9 mEq/l and blood sugar level of 78 mg/dl. Repeated serum electrolyte tests confirmed the serum potassium level at 2.92 mEq/l, while urinary ketones increased from 1+ at the time of admission to 3+ by 1:00 pm.”
Wife made serious allegations, approached HC
Angmo said in a post on X that his potassium levels were not mentioned in the public health bulletin released today. “I have lost trust in the Safdarjung Government Hospital. The hospital told us that Sonam Wangchuk’s potassium had dropped to 2.9, which was described as dangerous and life-threatening. Yet, in its public health bulletin, it conveniently left out the actual numbers, mentioning only ‘decreasing potassium levels’. An independent laboratory test found it to be 3.5, which is within normal limits,” Angmo said in his post.
She said, “Despite repeated requests, the hospital has refused to discharge her or allow us to be shifted to a private hospital of our choice. There are about 30 police personnel on our floor and over 100 deployed across the hospital, thereby severely restricting our movements. This is not medical care. This is illegal detention. If anything happens to Sonam, the hospital authorities and the government will have to take full responsibility. So I have moved the High Court and sought an urgent hearing today.” to allow Sonam to be transferred before her health deteriorates further. No family should have to fight the system just to choose where their loved one receives medical care.”
In the writ petition filed in the Delhi High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution, Angmo has sought a declaration that Wangchuk’s stay in the government hospital amounts to “illegal and unconstitutional imprisonment” under the guise of medical treatment. The petition seeks directions for his immediate release and transfer, unrestricted access to his family, legal counsel and independent doctors, as well as handing over his entire medical records for an independent medical investigation. (ANI)
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