Kerala: Medical Negligence death at GMC, Ernakulam probed

Kochi: Adeath of a 23 year old Jerin Michael due to alleged medical negligence at the Government Medical College Hospital, Ernakulam, late on Saturday night, has been reported. Jerin who was admitted to the hospital with stomach pain earlier in the day, is believed to have collapsed & died. A two member team from the Kottayam Medical College reached GMC, Ernakulam on Monday, to probe into the cause of death.

The probing team constituting of Additional Professor, Surgery,Dr. Sasikumar and Additional Professor,Medicine, Dr. Prasanth Kumar questioned the two doctors present on duty on Saturday, when the patient collapsed. They also gathered details from the house surgeons and other staff members.

The doctors on duty were asked to proceed on leave, on Sunday,for three days by the Director of Medical Education (DME). The Director is supposed to take action based on the report submitted by the two member probing team.

A case of unnatural death has been filed by the police, as the cause of death is yet to surface.The medical college authorities revealed that the body of the youth could only be transported to the Alappuzha Medical College for post-mortem, late Sunday evening, due to protests held during the day.

This is the second incident of death due to medical negligence at the medical college.Last year a medical student , Shamna Tasneem, had also collapsed and died at the hospital.

There are allegations that the medical college authorities have yet to complete the purchase of equipment worth Rs.1 crore that was sanctioned as an aftermath of the Shamna tragedy.

At that time it is alleged that the institute had lacked a number of equipment, some very basic, as well.

Principal Dr. V. K. Sreekala refuting the allegations with regard to non-utilization of the fund said, all that was ordered for the amount has come in. “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 told the Hindu.