Almost a month after the death of a woman, allegedly due to medical negligence, and enraged mob ransacking the hospital, confusion remains about the legal action that followed.
The histo-pathological report on the 27-year-old woman, who was admitted to Welcare Hospital, Vyttila, is expected any time.
The post-mortem report showed that cardiac failure led to her death, after being admitted for vomiting and fever and was being administered intravenous drip, sources said. The histo-pathological report will be forwarded to the Medical Board to decide whether to proceed against the doctor who was on duty at the casualty on January 30 evening, when the incident happened.
However, the confusion is about the case registered against 20-odd persons under the Kerala Health Service Persons and Healthcare Services Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act 2012 for assaulting a doctor on duty and damaging hospital property.
While the local leaders and corporation councillors, who represented the crowd in discussions with the hospital management, claimed that a compromise was reached with the case being withdrawn, the hospital authorities sounded determined to take the case to a logical conclusion in the court. “The progress of the case against the doctor will continue on the basis of the decision of the medical board, but the other case has been withdrawn by the hospital authorities following discussions,” said A.R. Padmadas, corporation councillor representing Chalikkavattom from where the woman was. This version was corroborated by city police officers as well.
This was, however, countered by the hospital authorities.
“We were told that one person was arrested and that the main persons among the remaining accused would surrender by next week. Some of the assaulters could be identified from the videos shot then,” said Sachidananda Kamath, superintendent of the hospital. Dr. Kamath said the protestors expressed willingness to apologise and pay the compensation for the damage to the hospital, and “we agreed to consider that. But any decision on the case will be taken before the court, including a possible settlement,” he said.
Mr. Padmadas said no agreement was reached on compensation for the damage caused to the hospital.
