LUCKNOW, Oct. 5 -- A video which went viral on social media on Friday exposed the state of affairs at one of the most prominent state-run medical institutions in Lucknow. The video featured a distressed young man, Ankit Mishra, crying and pleading for help while his father, Ramakant Mishra, was battling for life at Lari Cardiology, King George's Medical University (KGMU) on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday.

Ankit alleged negligence and mistreatment by doctors and staff even as his father suffered a third heart attack. In the video, he appealed directly to deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak, saying: "Brajesh Pathak ji, don't let anyone die like this. please help."

Ankit claimed that his father was left unattended for nearly...