Safdarjung Hospital issues Sonam Wangchuk health update; wife alleges 'illegal detention'- top developments

Angmo also alleged that the hospital had refused to discharge Wangchuk or allow the family to shift him to a private hospital of their choice

NEW DELHI: Activist Sonam Wangchuk remains in stable condition but continues to need sustained medical intervention and continuous monitoring after his prolonged hunger strike, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital said on Sunday, while sharing his health update.Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday after Delhi Police removed him from the protest site at Jantar Mantar, citing medical advice and directions of the Delhi high court. He had been on an indefinite hunger strike demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in national examinations, including the NEET paper leak case.‘Have lost faith in Safdarjung’: Sonam’s wifeActivist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, on Sunday alleged that she had “lost faith” in Safdarjung Hospital, claiming there were discrepancies between the hospital’s assessment of Wangchuk’s potassium levels and an independent laboratory report.In a post on X, she wrote, “The hospital told us@Wangchuk66’s potassium had dropped to 2.9, describing it as alarming and life-threatening. Yet, in its public health bulletin, it conveniently omitted the actual number, referring only to “decreasing potassium levels.” An independent laboratory test reported 3.5, well within the normal range.”Angmo also alleged that the hospital had refused to discharge Wangchuk or allow the family to shift him to a private hospital of their choice. Claiming that heavy police deployment at the hospital had severely restricted their movement, she described the situation as “illegal detention” rather than medical care.“Despite repeated requests, the hospital has refused to discharge him or allow us to shift him to a private hospital of our choice. With around 30 police personnel stationed on our floor and well over 100 across the hospital, our movement is severely restricted. It is not medical care. It is illegal detention.”She said she had approached the Delhi High Court seeking an urgent hearing to permit Wangchuk’s transfer, adding that if anything happened to him, “the hospital authorities and the government must bear full responsibility.”‘Blood parameters remain marginally altered’In a health bulletin, the hospital said Wangchuk’s vital parameters are currently stable, though some of his blood parameters remain “marginally altered” due to the physiological stress and systemic effects of extended fasting.“Shri Sonam Wangchuk is being given the required medical intervention at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital. His vital parameters are stable at present; however, his blood parameters remain marginally altered, and considering the physiological stress and systemic effects of prolonged fasting, he requires continuous medical care under the close observation of a multidisciplinary team of experts,” the bulletin stated.The hospital said concluded by saying that sustained medical treatment and 24-hour clinical observation are necessary to promptly identify and manage any complications that may develop.“The treating teams of doctors from VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS, New Delhi, are of the considered opinion that sustained medical intervention and round-the-clock clinical monitoring are essential to promptly detect and manage any potential complications that may arise despite his currently stable condition,” the statement added.Wangchuk’s doctor rejected Safdurjung earlier reportWangchuk’s personal physician, Dr Nitin Dighe, questioned the hospital’s assessment of the activist’s condition and alleged a lack of transparency in his medical care.“My team and I have been doing his checkups for the past 20 days. His advocates and we have not been allowed to meet him so far. His wife is here and they are allowing her. I asked them why they have kept him here, we were told that he is showing potassium deficiency. I had taken his blood sample at 3 pm yesterday and potassium was normal at that time. It was 4.8, higher than the normal value of 3.5. Now, they are saying the value has dropped. When his wife is asking for a report, they are not giving one to her. This is suspicious, so I am collecting his blood and taking it for a report. I will present the report to you. We do not trust the Govt lab,” Dighe said.He added that Wangchuk’s wife had formally requested the hospital to discharge him at the earliest and allow him to be shifted to another medical facility.CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke launched an indefinite hunger strike on Saturday after Wangchuk was removed from the protest site, asserting that the planned July 20 march to Parliament would go ahead and demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resignation.