Mobs attacked three public hospitals on Monday and Tuesday after the death of two patients, each allegedly because of negligence. Alleged negligence also caused a third death, which did not spark an attack.

A teenager taken to Maa Hospital was referred to Rajawadi Hospital, allegedly too late. She was declared dead before admission and a mob attacked both hospitals. Also at Rajawadi, an accident victim died after she was allegedly left unattended for hours; this sparked angry outbursts from her husband. The third hospital to be attacked was GT Hospital after the death of a patient who had been vomiting blood.

Aarti Khaire, 17, of Ghatkopar was admitted to Maa Hospital with nausea and fever on Monday evening. “Instead of a doctor, an on-duty nurse gave her an injection. Within minutes, she started oozing blood from the ears and nose and frothing from the mouth before losing consciousness. Only after this did a doctor examine her and say she should be shifted to Rajawadi Hospital. We rushed her there but she was declared dead before admission,” said Rajesh Sapkal, Aarti’s uncle.

After midnight, a mob of 40-50, including Aarti’s relatives, barged into Rajawadi with bamboo sticks and stones and damaged property in the casualty ward, the Ghatkopar police said. The mob also attacked Maa Hospital, smashing window panes, hospital boards, and a metal detector. “Nurses, ward boys and the doctor locked themselves in a first-floor room ,” a hospital source said.

Maa Hospital’s chief medical officer, Dr Ajit Kale, denied negligence. “Aarti had been brought to us on Sunday, too; she was treated for body ache, headache, vomiting, fever and loose motions and discharged immediately. On Monday, she was admitted again but was stable. She was treated by a doctor, S D Kawde, but later developed chest pains and we advised the family to take her to Rajawadi,” Dr Kale said.

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