A two-member team from the Kottayam Medical College arrived at the Government Medical College, Ernakulam, on Monday to inquire into the death of a 23-year-old youth, Jerin Michael, who collapsed and died at the hospital late on Saturday night. He had been admitted to the hospital earlier in the day with stomach pain.
Additional Professor (Medicine) Dr. Prasanth Kumar and Additional Professor (Surgery) Dr. Sasikumar spoke to two doctors at the medical college who were on duty on Saturday at the time of the incident and also collected details from house surgeons and other staff members.
The two doctors who were on duty were on Sunday asked to go on leave for three days by the Director of Medical Education (DME). The DME is expected to take further action based on the report submitted by the two-member team.
The police have filed a case of unnatural death as the cause of death is unknown. The medical college authorities said the body of the youth could be transported to the Alappuzha Medical College for post-mortem only by late Sunday evening due to protests held during the day.
This is second time within a year that allegations are being raised about negligence leading to the death of patients at the medical college.
Last year, Shamna Tasneem, a 19-year-old medical student of the college, collapsed and died during treatment at the hospital. Two reports on the issue have been submitted to the government so far. The student’s father had also approached the State Human Rights Commission in this regard.
There have also been allegations that the medical college authorities have not completed the purchase of equipment worth ₹1 crore that was sanctioned in the aftermath of the Shamna case. At that time the institute had lacked a number of equipment, even basic ones.
However, Principal Dr. V. K. Sreekala has refuted the allegations with regard to non-utilisation of the fund. She said all that was ordered for the amount had been bought. “However, the college continues to be short on the number of doctors and other staff. Quite a few are putting in 24-hour duties too,” she added.
