NEW DELHI: Safdarjung Hospital on Sunday said claims made by activist Sonam Wangchuk‘s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, during his ongoing treatment were “not conducive to the smooth management of the patient’s medical care”. The statement came after she alleged that the hospital had withheld key medical information and moved the Delhi high court seeking permission to shift him to a private hospital.According to ANI, the hospital said the Patient Summary Report shared with Angmo on Saturday had clearly mentioned Wangchuk’s potassium levels. However, it said she later alleged in a social media post that the hospital had neither shared the potassium values in writing nor included them in the health bulletin.“The Patient Summary Report shared with Gitanjali Angmo, wife of Sonam Wangchuk, yesterday clearly mentioned the patient’s potassium levels. However, in a social media post this morning, she alleged that the hospital neither shared the potassium values in writing nor included them in the Health Bulletin. Such developments during an ongoing course of treatment are not conducive to the smooth management of the patient’s medical care. The multidisciplinary team of medical experts has been consistently counselling both the patient and the family to facilitate timely medical intervention and adherence to the recommended treatment protocol,” the hospital said, according to ANI.The hospital also released a medical case summary, stating that the 59-year-old activist was admitted to VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital at 7.40 am on July 18 after being brought by Delhi Police. It said Wangchuk had been fasting from solid food for 20 days and was suffering from generalised weakness. Initial tests showed compensated acidosis and low serum potassium levels of around 2.9 mEq/l, while urinary ketones increased during the day. The hospital said intravenous fluids, oral rehydration fluids and medication were advised, but Wangchuk had refused all treatment and was being continuously monitored and counselled.The response came after Angmo said she had approached the Delhi high court seeking permission to transfer Wangchuk to a private hospital of her choice, saying she had “lost faith” in Safdarjung Hospital. In her petition, she alleged that the hospital disclosed only selective medical information, prevented an independent assessment of his condition and refused to discharge him despite repeated requests.She also claimed there was a discrepancy between the potassium level reported by Safdarjung Hospital and the findings of an independent laboratory, alleging that a blood sample provided after a delay showed a potassium level of 3.6, compared with the hospital’s reported 2.9. Angmo further alleged that heavy police deployment inside the hospital had effectively restricted the family’s movement, describing Wangchuk’s continued stay as “illegal detention”.
