Relatives allege negligence after youth dies at Ernakulam Medical College

KOCHI: A youth died at Ernakulam Government Medical College on Saturday night allegedly due to medical negligence. Jerin Micheal, 25, a sound engineering student at a private institute in Kochi, was admitted to the hospital on Saturday morning following severe stomach pain. He died by 11.20 p.m. as he didn’t receive proper medical attention, according to the youth’s relatives. Edathala police registered a case under section 174 of the CrPC based on the statement of the youth’s relatives. Mr S. Jayakrishnan, Kalamassery CI, said that since the relatives had alleged medical negligence, an FIR on unnatural death had been filed.

A friend of Jerin alleged that though the patient started to have seizures at night, none attended on him. Meanwhile, medical college principal Dr V.K. Sreekala said that they had informed the police after the death. “Since the cause of death was unknown, we suggested an autopsy report. The director of medical education (DME) has ordered a probe and the hospital will cooperate with the same,” she said. Political organisations took out a protest march to the medical college on Sunday seeking action against the guilty. The body has been sent to Alappuzha medical college for the autopsy. Aluva MLA Anwar Sadat has sought a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family members of the youth.