Medical negligence alleged in man’s death

KOZHIKODE

: Relatives of a 38-year-old man who died at the Government

Medical

College Hospital (MCH) here on Saturday morning after being admitted for laparoscopy for the removal of gallstones have levelled allegations of medical negligence.


T C Baiju of

Chemancheri

was admitted to the hospital on April 9 and a keyhole surgery for the removal of gallstones was performed on him on April 13. But his health deteriorated and he died at 5.30am on Saturday after suffering from kidney failure.

Relatives of the deceased and members of the

Kozhikode district

committee of Bharatiya Dalit Congress protested demanding that the MCH authorities should not perform the post-mortem examination. They alleged that medical negligence resulted in the death of Baiju. The issue was resolved after the revenue divisional officer rushed to the spot and the MCH authorities formed a four-member committee to probe into the allegations.

T Surendran, relative of the deceased, said Baiju was admitted under Dr K C Soman of general surgery. “The doctors who performed the surgery in the absence of Dr Soman failed to place a stent in the bile for letting out secretions. Health condition of Baiju deteriorated resulting in kidney failure after the secretion got mixed with blood,” he said.

“Two dialysis were performed on the patient. Though the doctors tried to place the stent in the bile, the attempt failed,” he said, adding that they have filed a complaint before the MCH superintendent demanding action against erring doctors.

Bharatiya Dalit Congress district committee president V S Abhilash said the organization had filed a complaint regarding medical negligence before chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, health minister K K Shailaja, hospital authorities, district collector, state human rights commission and the district police chief. “We want the government to provide compensation to the family of the deceased, and stern action should be taken against the doctors involved,” he said.

MCH superintendent Dr K G Sajeeth Kumar said a department-level inquiry will be conducted on receiving the complaint. “An intimation has already been sent to the medical college police about the inquiry,” he said.

Medical college principal Dr V R Rajendran said a four-member special panel of doctors has been formed to conduct an inquiry into the allegations. “Apart from this, two relatives of the deceased and two social workers will also help the panel conduct a fair inquiry. The panel will submit its report within 48 hours, and the report will be submitted to state health department on Monday evening,” he said.