Swine Flu Patient Ends Life at Hospital

Mumbai engineer who had been treated for swine flu at Dr. DY Patil hospital reportedly committed suicide by jumping off the fifth floor of the hospital on Monday. Prakash Lingoji (46), a native of Karnataka, was under treatment for the disease in an isolation ward of the hospital.

The hospital administration said, his wife and two children had been tested positive for swine flu and were under treatment at the same hospital in a different ward.

Sangeeta Alphonso, senior police officer, said they had not recovered any suicide note and had registered a case of accidental death.

Dr Syam More, deputy medical superintendent of Dr. D Y Patil Hospital, said, "Lingoji was normal and he was looking after his wife Prema, who was admitted to the hospital on Saturday. On Sunday evening, Lingoji complained that he too was having mild fever for the last couple of days, following which we admitted him too. The hospital also carried out necessary tests to check if he too had contracted swine flu."

 Financial problems do not seem to be a reason to commit suicide as the treatment for swine flu was free under a government programme. Dr. More said, “Lingoji seemed to have panicked after doctors started treating him for suspected swine flu; his blood test reports were expected on Tuesday.”

Meanwhile, health experts caution that it is necessary to create awareness among people about swine flu and the preventive measures to be taken even before they contact the virus.

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Source-Medindia