Om Hospital in Chabahil, Kathmandu became tense on Wednesday following the death of a patient during treatment at the hospital. Irate relatives of the deceased patient picketed the hospital and chanted slogans.

Forty-year-old Kamal Bhattarai, a permanent resident of Butwal, died after undergoing a surgery for her nose. She was admitted at the hospital on Saturday to fix the problems in her nasal bone. The kin of Bhattarai blamed negligence in treatment for her death. “Her nose was slightly deviated since birth but there was no problem of pain or anything. But the doctors said she needed a minor surgery,” said deceased Kamala’s husband Basanta Bhattarai.

ENT specialist doctor Rajendra Prasad Guragain was involved in Kamala’s treatment.

According to her relative, Kamala repeatedly vomited and had a constant nose bleeding, and her urination stopped after the surgery. “The hospital staff asked us to buy medicines worth Rs 150,000, and later surprisingly the doctor said her kidney failed due to excessive medicines,” said Bidur Dahal, a relative of Kamala.

“She was in a semi-conscious state after the operation, and murmuring something,” said her husband Basanta, “We need a clear and logical reason for her death, otherwise we will initiate legal action the doctor.”

The agitating relatives have demanded that the hospital should acknowledge its negligence and apologise and a fair investigation into the patient’s death.

However, the hospital has denied negligence on the doctor’s part for Kamala’s death. “Even though it sounds minor, the surgery of nose is sensitive and there are high chances of infection, sometimes the patients can’t be saved,” said Om Hospital administration chief Binaya Pyakurel. He urged the deceased patient’s relatives to investigate and initiate the legal process, if they think it was doctors’ negligence.