Punjab hospital O2 snag: 3 doctors suspended, house surgeon sacked

JALANDHAR/CHANDIGARH: Three senior doctors at Punjab's largest civil hospital in Jalandhar have been suspended and a house surgeon dismissed after three ventilated patients died following an oxygen supply failure on Sunday evening.

State health minister Dr Balbir Singh called the failure "unpardonable" and said the suspended doctors could lose service benefits. Despite four backup sources, "irresponsible handling" led to a fatal drop in oxygen pressure, he added.

The patients - Archna, Avtar Chand, and Raju - died between 7.15pm and 7.50pm in trauma ward. A class IV employee was handling the system as both technicians were unavailable. Initial probe found serious lapses. Singh ordered uninterrupted power supply in govt hospitals, stressing 24x7 oxygen availability in ICUs & emergency wards.