Kollam: The preliminary investigation report by the district medical officer in the death of Murugan in an ambulance after being denied treatment cites apathy by private hospitals in providing emergency medical care. It found a blatant violation of existing laws and court directives. No one has the right to deny treatment to critically ill patients and accident victims, and strict action should be taken against perpetrators, it says. The first hospital into which he was taken, the KIMS in Kottiyam, had referred the victim to Meditrina and Medicity Medical College Hospital after confirming the availability of ventilator and neurosurgeon over the phone, the report says. However, the victim was denied treatment there saying the surgeon was absent while the Medicity said all its fifteen ventilators were engaged.
He was stable while he was brought to the Medicity and a doctor there checked him, the report says. He was later taken to Thiruvananthapuram MCH, SUT Royal, and then back to Azeezia hospital in the city where he could not get emergency care. His condition worsened, and he breathed his last on the way to the District Hospital here. The report also suggests guidelines to prevent such incidents. It recommends strengthening the infrastructure to provide trauma care facilities in government hospitals.
All hospitals should display the availability of trauma care services and experts. There should be a strict mandate to provide adequate treatment as public hospitals lack sufficient trauma care facilities. The patients with a head injury will need around Rs 4-5 lakh for surgery and continuing treatments.
The first 24 hours after the accident is crucial for victims and the government should employ insurance or treatment aid. A monitoring cell could be formed under the district collector. The doctors and hospitals that provide treatment to patients in critical condition and without bystanders should be given legal protection as they are prone to face legal action under various circumstances. An ambulance network is being planned by ‘Track’, an NGO. This network should be widened by including private ambulances.
