Man dies, relatives picket private hospital

VELLORE: Parents and relatives of a man who died while being treated at a private hospital near Arcot, picketed the hospital, alleging poor treatment by unskilled trainee doctors had led to his death.Ayyappan (23) of Anna Nagar in Ammur near Walajah was driving his tractor when he lost control of the vehicle, which toppled into a nearby well. The accident occurred at around 4.30 pm on Saturday. He was taken to a local, private clinic, which referred him to a large, private hospital in Arcot, to which he was admitted around 5.40 pm.Mani, Ayyappan’s brother said that after admission, only trainee doctors had treated him. “When we questioned them, we were told that regular doctors would arrive in a while. Meanwhile, we were asked to pay `10,000 and then `3,000 a little later. At around 9:30 pm, they informed us that he had died. However, the chief doctor arrived only after 10.30 pm,” said Mani.Ayyappan’s relatives picketed the hospital and claimed that he died after ineffective treatment by the trainee doctors. Arcot town police rushed to the spot to pacify the angry relatives.