Shamna's death: Medical team takes evidence at Ernakulam Medical College

KOCHI: The three-member high level team led by Joint Director of Medical Education and forensic surgeon Dr K Sreekumari and comprising Thiruvananthapuram Medical College medicine professor Dr M.K. Suresh and Pulmonary medicine professor Dr K. Anitha on Monday visited the Ernakulam Government Medical College (EMC) and took evidence related to the death of MBBS student Shamna Tasnim after an injection was given to her.

The team spoke to students, duty staff including nurses and medical officers and the principal and other officials and recorded their version leading to her death. They also visited the ward where she underwent treatment and also the ICU where she was last admitted. They also received a copy of the case sheet which was seized by the police. Interestingly the team did not visit the Rajagiri Hospital where Shamna breathed her last nor did have a look at the case sheet at that hospital.

The probe which began at 10 am went past 6 pm. The students, including house surgeons and PGs, complained of the lack of infrastructure and staff as the main impediment at the college leading to the death of the student. “We told them that the wards do not have oxygen cylinders, suction apparatus and other medical equipment and even stretchers,” said a medico.