Kottayam: The death of a 62-year-old patient here on Wednesday due to alleged medical negligence by three hospitals led to widespread protests on Thursday. The police registered cases against Kottayam Medical College Hospital, Caritas and Matha hospitals which had denied treatment to the patient. The government also ordered a probe into the incident.
The patient, Thomas Jacob, from Idukki district, who had been undergoing treatment for H1N1 influenza at a hospital at Kattapana, was brought to the MCH on Wednesday afternoon but denied admission citing shortage of ventilator facility. He was rushed to Caritas and later to Matha hospitals which also did not admit him citing the same reason.
He was then brought back to the MCH, but he breathed his last in the ambulance.
Rini, daughter of the deceased, accused the MCH authorities of criminal negligence in handling a patient in critical condition. Thomas had been admitted to a hospital in Kattappana two days ago following fever and breathing problems. His relatives also accused the doctors at the MCH of even refusing to confirm his death. “After the doctors on duty refused to attend to my father, we approached the hospital PRO. But our requests for help fell on deaf years. They were not even ready to come out and examine the patient, who was lying unconscious in the ambulance,” Rini said.
Based on her complaint, the Kottayam district police booked a case against the three hospitals under IPC section 304 for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. R. Sreekumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kottayam, will conduct the probe.
The state government has directed the medical education director to conduct an inquiry and submit a report.
MCH resident medical officer R.P. Ranjin said the hospital had not been informed about the patient’s condition prior to his arrival there.
“We tried our best to arrange a ventilator facility at any of the wards. Had we been informed about his arrival well in advance, we would have got enough time to prepare for the eventuality,” he explained.
