KOCHI: People of Kalamassery and members of a few NGOs are set to observe a dawn to dusk hunger strike on Wednesday demanding action against those responsible for medical negligence in the death of medico Shamna Tasneem and sound engineering student Jerin Michael at the Ernakulam Government Medical College here. Aneesh Antony of NGO Souhruda Welfare Society who is leading the fast said that it is nearly two years since the death of Shamna Tasneem and over a year since the death of Jerin Michael.
“According to reports, the doctor responsible for the death of Shaman Tasneem has been reinstated and has also got promotion. Jerin’s grandmother who was fully dependent on Jerin is now taken care of by relatives. Jerin’s father and mother had already died. In fact the family of Shamna and Jerin’s mother are in wilderness. Our fight is seeking justice for these two families,” said Aneesh.
Aneesh said that despite these two tragic incidents, the attitude of the staff and doctors to patients has not undergone any major change. “We are also fighting for the lives of people who are coming to the hospital and who will come in future. Hospital is where people should get relief and not otherwise. The government has to ensure that,” he said. Aneesh said that Shamna’s father K A Abootty who waged a long-drawn out battle to get justice in the case is today a serious heart patient. “He wanted to come for the fast on Wednesday in front of the medical college but his health is in a bad state and he is crestfallen also,” said Aneesh. Abootty had declined the pittance offered by the State Government as compensation for the death of Shamna also. “Justice in its true sense should meet the two families,” said Aneesh.
