AGRA, July 8 -- An explanation has been sought from an ambulance driver who allegedly refused to transport a woman patient over a distance of about 400 metres within the premises of Firozabad Medical College. The patient's family, assisted by hospital staff, pushed the stretcher themselves, but the woman could not be saved. The incident occurred on the campus of Firozabad Medical College on Monday, when a 20-year-old woman, Kirti, was brought from Madanpur village under the Sirsaganj police station limits in Firozabad district for treatment. According to her family, Kirti had been suffering from a kidney ailment for the past one-and-a-half years and required regular dialysis. On Monday, after her blood pressure rose sharply, her family rushed her to Firozabad Medical College for dialysis. However, as her condition did not improve and her blood pressure remained critically high, doctors advised that she be shifted to the emergency ward, the family said. The family alleged that an ambulance was parked outside the dialysis unit and requested the driver to help shift the critically ill patient to the emergency ward. However, the driver allegedly refused, claiming that the ambulance had already been booked by another patient and that he was waiting for the scheduled call. Subsequently, the staff of the dialysis unit and the patient's family pushed the stretcher themselves for nearly 400 metres to the emergency ward. However, despite their efforts, the woman could not be saved and was declared dead, the family alleged. When contacted, chief medical superintendent Dr Naveen Jain said the matter had been brought to his notice and that an explanation had been sought from the ambulance driver who allegedly refused to provide timely assistance to the critically ill patient. "The patient received timely medical attention, but her blood pressure continued to rise. She was provided dialysis without delay, and the dialysis unit staff shifted her to the emergency ward using a stretcher available at the facility. The ambulance driver could have shown greater sensitivity. The matter is being investigated, and appropriate action will be taken if anyone is found at fault," Dr Jain said. htc...