New Delhi: As doctors at Safdarjung Hospital raised concerns about potential kidney and metabolic complications, activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, has insisted he be discharged immediately, accusing hospital authorities of lack of transparency over claims about dehydration, a drop in potassium and rising ketone levels.
Wangchuk was brought to Safdarjung on Saturday morning by Delhi Police for medical attention, following directions from the Delhi High Court. His admission came two days before a march to Parliament planned for the first day of the Monsoon Session on Monday (July 20).
Safdarjung Hospital issued a health bulletin on Saturday afternoon detailing the medical findings after admission. It said blood gas analysis showed compensated acidosis, decreased serum potassium and a blood sugar reading of 78 mg/dl. A repeat serum potassium test returned similar results. The bulletin added that urinary ketones were 1+ on admission but rose to 3+ by 1:00 PM. The statement said, “Although intravenous fluids were advised, the patient has refused all intravenous fluids, oral rehydration fluid or any other medication. He is being continuously monitored and counselled for treatment in the best interest of his health.”
Angmo criticised the hospital for not being transparent, alleging that staff were preventing her from obtaining a second opinion or from taking a blood sample in her presence to get it tested elsewhere, as reported by DNA.
In a post on X, Angmo wrote that the hospital claimed Wangchuk’s potassium level fell from 4.3 (she said this was recorded on Friday) to 2.9. She said she had been waiting for a response from the hospital for two hours after asking for her husband’s immediate discharge, and called the lack of openness “suspicious.”
She posted: “Safdarjung Hospital’s report says @Wangchuk66’s potassium level is 2.9, whereas just yesterday it was 4.3. They are not allowing me to either get a second opinion by taking him to another lab, nor are they giving me his blood sample in my presence, which I can get tested elsewhere. I have been waiting for 3 hours, but they haven’t obliged us yet. This lack of transparency is making us suspicious, and we have asked to be discharged immediately so that we can go to a hospital that we are comfortable with. We have been awaiting their response for the last 2 hours,” she said.
Dr Nitin Dighe, who is treating Wangchuk, told ANI that he had taken a blood sample at 3 PM on Friday showing a normal potassium level. He said the hospital had not provided Wangchuk’s medical reports, and that he would obtain the blood-sample report to present to the media.
