A patient’s death after more than a month of treatment at a private hospital in Ranchi has triggered a dispute between the deceased’s family and the hospital management, prompting Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to order an inquiry.
Raju Kumar Pandey, a resident of Latehar district, was critically injured in a road accident near Brahmani in Chandwa on May 24. After initial treatment at Latehar Sadar Hospital, he was referred to RIMS, but his family shifted him to a private hospital in Ranchi. He remained under treatment for around 37 days before succumbing to his injuries.
Following his death, the family accused the hospital of medical negligence, insensitive treatment and overbilling. They alleged that despite charging a huge amount, doctors failed to provide proper care. A protest broke out inside the hospital, and videos showing alleged vandalism at the front office later surfaced on social media.
The deceased’s father, Rajesh Pandey, alleged that private hospitals had become centres of financial exploitation. He demanded strict action against the hospital and sought registration of a murder case against the doctors involved.
Taking cognisance of the matter, Chief Minister Hemant Soren directed the Ranchi Deputy Commissioner to conduct a detailed probe and ensure strict action if any wrongdoing is established.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren directed the Ranchi Deputy Commissioner to conduct a detailed probe
Rejecting the allegations, the hospital said the patient had suffered severe polytrauma, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal and cervical fractures, chest injuries and multiple fractures. It said he was admitted in a critical condition and treated by a multidisciplinary team of specialists.
According to the hospital, all treatment, including ventilator support, surgeries, blood transfusions and ICU care, followed established medical protocols. It further claimed that doctors repeatedly advised amputation of the patient’s left leg because of vascular damage and infection, but the family declined consent despite repeated counselling.
The hospital’s General Manager said the family had been informed on the day of admission that the patient’s chances of survival were “almost negligible” due to the severity of his injuries. He also denied allegations of a Rs 22 lakh bill, stating that the total treatment cost was about Rs 18 lakh, with nearly Rs 10 lakh covered by insurance and around Rs 5–5.5 lakh paid by the family. He added that the hospital had granted a Rs 50,000 discount while dues of about Rs 2–2.5 lakh remained unpaid.
The hospital also alleged that the family raised billing objections only at the final settlement and sought better security for private hospitals after the protest.
Meanwhile, a state government enquiry team visited the hospital on July 4 and collected medical records and treatment documents. The investigation will determine whether there was any negligence or whether the allegations arose from the patient’s critical condition.
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Published By:
Zafar Zaidi
Published On:
Jul 5, 2026 14:04 IST
