Kochi: The state government is considering disciplinary action against two doctors of the Ernakulam Government Medical College (EMC) for alleged medical negligence in the death of medico Shamna Tasnim. She had collapsed and died following the administering of an antibiotic injection at EMC nearly six months back. The official stance of the government in the case was revealed when the joint secretary appeared before the state Human Rights Commission (SHRC) in a sitting held at the collectorate here on Saturday.
“The disciplinary action against these people (accused of medical negligence) is before the consideration of the state government…It was also found that despite an unfavourable report by the doctor who conducted the autopsy, the meet of the Medical Board led by the district medical officer failed to transfer the case for consideration of the state apex body. Hence a direction has been given to the Director of the Health Department to take up the case again in the apex body,” said the affidavit filed by B. Manu, joint secretary before the rights panel.
The Home Department was too alerted to inquire into any alleged lapse by the police in the investigation of the charges. The Health and Social Welfare departments have been asked to take time-bound measures on all complaints with respect to the case, it said. The commission fixed January 11 as the next date for hearing in the case. K.A. Abootty, father of Shamna, had earlier petitioned the SHRC chairman seeking action against the doctors concerned in the EMC and a private hospital for “showing disrespect” to his daughter’s body.
In his petition, he pointed out that Shamna had died by 3.45 pm on July 18 “as is evident from the report of the Joint Director of the Medical Education.” Despite that the body was shifted to a private hospital in the guise of providing expert treatment and kept in the ICU there for nearly two hours, charging '8,986 towards treatment expenses. “This amounts to gross disrespect towards the body,” the petition said.
