Imphal, March 06, 2010: For Thumbu Maram, the struggle had just begun.

His son Dr Robert Tiba had fractured an arm in a motor accident near Khatkhati in Assam on January 25 earlier this year, and while undergoing medical treatment at the Hosmat Hospital in Bangalore, he died on February 8 apparently due to negligence of the hospital staff.

The struggle to have justice done had just begun for his bereaved family.

Professor of History at the Department of History, Assam University, Dr Robert Tiba was returning home from Santipur after attending an International seminar.

His car collided with a speeding goods laden truck at Gautam Basti under Khatkhati police station.

Tiba sustained an arm fracture.

The Pro-VC Assam University, who was travelling just ahead, rushed Tiba to Zion Hospital at Dimapur.

Unfortunately, no ortho doctors were on duty that day.

His wife, Bijeta, then rushed him to Bangalore where Tiba was admitted to Hosmat Hospital.

Dr Robert Tiba, who hails from Tumuyon Khullen village in Senapati District, was conscious and able to walk by himself when he was admitted at Hosmat hospital.

On January 27, he was operated by the doctors at the hospital.

He came out of the operation theatre complaining of some pain.

He was given sedative drug Fentanyl to relieve him of his pain.

Dr CB Prabhu, the ortho-surgeon who had conducted the operation, assured Dr Robert he would be discharged ftom the hospital within four days.

On the following morning, Tiba complained of pain.

The attending nurse provided him a pain killer tablet that did not do much good.

Tiba was then given an IV injection of Fentanyl.

He got some relief for some time, but immediately lost consciousness and lasped into coma.

Dr Robert never recovered from the coma and he breathed his last on February 8 evening.

Dr Robert's family strongly felt that it was the negligence of the hospital staff that led to his death.

The attending nurse denied that she gave a pain killer tablet in between two IV injections.

Tiba's family lodged a complaint with the Halasuru Police Station in Bangalore.

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