Imphal, January 21: With another patient succumbing at its Casualty Ward, the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences is again caught in the centre of another controversy.

A 46 year old man identified as Moirangthem Norjit of Tharoijam Mayai Leikai was brought to RIMS last night at about 11 following complaints of chest pain and incessant coughing.

There at the Casualty Ward, Norjit was administered five IVs at a time.

Instead of stabilising after the medicines were administered, the condition of Norjit worsened, said family members.

When the family members informed the attending doctor about the worsening condition of Norjit, the doctor reportedly said "He will be all right, it was due to incessant coughing".

Then the doctor prescribed a medicine on a blank paper without appending his signature and asked the family members to fetch it.

But before the medicine could be brought, Norjit succumbed sitting on the hospital floor.

Following complaints from family members, RIMS Superintendent has ordered an inquiry into the death of Moirangthem Norjit.

The family members have been accusing the RIMS doctors of negligence and complacency.

They maintained that Norjit died due to utter inefficiency and lack of concern on the part of RIMS doctors for their patient.

After the death of Norjit, the doctor reportedly told the family members that the patient was brought there in a critical condition.

This was followed by a tense argument between the patient party and the doctors.

The bereaved family members questioned the doctors as to why they did not make arrangement for artificial respiration (oxygen supply) if they knew that the patient was in critical condition.

The altercation between the two sides ended after intervention by RIMS security guards.

Even as an enquiry has been ordered into the controversial death, the family members, recalling similar incidents and enquiry in the past, remain skeptical on the sincerity of RIMS authority conducting an enquiry on its own Casualty CMO Dr Dhanaraj.

The bereaved family was also prevented from lodging a complaint in Lamphel police station in this connection saying that a Supreme Court guideline prohibits registration of such case.

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