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This is to bring to your notice the poor standard of First Aid and medical care administered by the Hospital on 12th November 2019.

My son Evan Nazareth works as a Marine Biologist in the Andaman Islands. While on fieldwork on Little Andaman he met with an accident. He slipped and fell on a rock. In the process, he hit his chin heavily on a rock. The local coast guard medical officer sutured his wound and suggested he visit a doctor as soon a possible and have an X-ray done to check for any jaw fractures. The Coast Guard performed as they are trained to without any charges.

The next day Evan returned to the Port Blair by boat. On arriving at Port Blair he visited the GB Pant Hospital at around 5 PM. There he was examined by a Dr. Mina Nasir and Dr. Jai Wiswas at the emergency room and was told to take rest as all was well and he had not suffered any fractures. He was also told X ray shots were not required. They based their diagnosis only on external appearance.

Feeling that something was not right, he flew back to Mumbai on the 13th Nov. After tests and consulting a local physician, it was noted that his mandible was fractured in three places. A seven and a half hour surgery was performed on him, shortly after and three plates fitted to stabilize the Jaw. Evan is now recuperating and will be at home and off work for the next eight weeks.

Sir, I would like the hospital to investigate their department and find out how the Jaw fracture was not detected, although there was misalignment and my son Evan was asked to only take rest and let it heal naturally.

I am sure the problem does not lie only in these two doctors but with the entire system at the hospital.

The Indian Government spends a lot of money to offer medical care to all its citizens obviously your hospital is not using its funds correctly. Nothing can be done to improve Evans condition but please ensure that other patients are not treated in a similar manner in the future.

Further, I see in your website in Specialty Structure that you have listed Orthopaedics as one of your Specialties. Why then was my son not given basic care he deserved when he visited you?

How many local residents have faced a similar fate? In Evan’s case, he was lucky he had means to return to Mumbai for further care.

Capt. Mark Nazareth

9969723603