Sonam Wangchuk hospitalised after 20-day hunger strike
Activist Sonam Wangchuk was admitted to Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday after a 20-day hunger strike, with doctors keeping him under close medical observation and urging his family to allow treatment to begin without further delay, sources said. The move was followed by his wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, asking the hospital not to administer any treatment without her consent and seeking his discharge, alleging a lack of transparency in his medical care.Wangchuk was admitted to VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital at 7.40 am after being brought in by the Delhi Police, following a 20-day fast during which he had not consumed any solid food, the hospital said in a medical update.According to the statement, Wangchuk was admitted with complaints of generalised weakness. He had no history of fainting episodes and was conscious at the time of admission, with stable pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation. However, doctors observed signs of dehydration. Medical investigations showed compensated acidosis on blood gas analysis, along with low serum potassium levels. His blood sugar was recorded at 78 mg/dl, while a repeat test confirmed persistently low serum potassium. Urinary ketones, which were 1+ at the time of admission, had risen to 3+ by 1 pm. “Sonam Wangchuk remains under close medical observation at Safdarjung Hospital after a prolonged fast. Doctors have found dehydration, low potassium and rising ketone levels, which can increase during fasting but, when significantly elevated along with dehydration, may pose a risk to kidney function and other metabolic complications,” a source was quoted as saying by PTI. “Hospital authorities are continuously counselling the family to allow treatment to begin without further delay,” the source added.The hospital said intravenous fluids were advised, but Wangchuk declined intravenous treatment, oral rehydration fluids and all other medication. He is being kept under continuous medical observation and is being counselled to accept treatment in the interest of his health, the statement said. Meanwhile, Wangchuk’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.”His wife has given it in writing to the Govt hospital that he be discharged from here at the earliest and we be permitted to take him to another hospital. His wife has said that the march to Parliament on 20th July will go on as decided and Sir too will be a part of it but if he doesn’t come his wife will join it,” Dighe said.On Friday night, Wangchuk said he remained determined to continue the fast despite his deteriorating health, claiming he had “lost 20% of my body” during the hunger strike.Wangchuk has been on an indefinite fast since June 28 in support of the CJP-led protest over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the reported deaths of students linked to the controversy.The Delhi High Court has been monitoring his medical condition and has directed authorities to conduct regular health assessments and provide appropriate medical intervention whenever necessary.
