The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Boy's death: unruly scenes at MCH

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 17, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Boy's death: unruly scenes at MCH

Staff Reporter

DYFI activists gherao DME

Thiruvananthapuram: Unruly scenes prevailed at Medical College Hospital (MCH) on Thursday morning when activists of the DYFI, the AIYF and the local people organised in front of the mortuary when the body of Shyam, 16, who had died at the hospital last night, was taken out for post-mortem examination.

The protestors, alleging that the boy had died owing to medical negligence, demanded that District Collector N. Ayyappan take action against those responsible for the boy's death.

The body was allowed to be taken out for post-mortem examination only after the Collector gave an assurance that Shyam's mother would be provided employment and that a detailed independent inquiry would be conducted into the incident.

Democratic Indira Congress-Karunakaran leader Sobhana George, Communist Party of India (Marxist) district secretary M. Vijayakumar, MLA Mangode Radhakrishnan, among others, were present at the hospital.

`Remove doctor'

A group of DYFI activists also barged into the office of Meenu Hariharan, Director of Medical Education (DME) and gheraoed Dr. Hariharan for over two hours.

The activists demanded that the doctor, who they alleged had injected `wrong drugs' to the boy, be removed from service.

They dispersed only after getting a written statement from the DME that the duty doctor who had been in the casualty when Shyam was brought in on January 15 would be placed under suspension.

The DME has asked the Medical College Principal to place Sunil Salim, provisional lecturer, General Medicine Department, under suspension.

"Our inquiry report had clearly established that the boy had not been administered wrong drugs, but that he had developed an adverse drug reaction. But the protestors were not willing to listen to reason," Dr. Hariharan, said.

Doctors' protest

Meanwhile, the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers' Association (KGMCTA) has expressed its protest against the DME's directive to suspend the duty doctor.

Dr. Sunil Salam, who was on duty at the casualty when Shyam was admitted, had clearly written in the case sheet that it was a case of drug reaction and had administered the proper medicines, steroids, to contain the adverse drug reaction, a spokesperson for KGMCTA said.

Leaders of the KGMCTA later met Health Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan. KGMCTA district secretary Dr. Jayan said Mr. Radhhakrishnan had assured them that the Government had not ordered any action against the duty doctor. He denied reports that medical college teachers had declared a strike on Friday.

The Post Graduates' Association have demanded that an independent inquiry be conducted into the case of Shyam and the circumstances that led to his death and to find out if there were any lapses on the part of doctors.

They demanded that the Government institute a Medical Ombudsman to inquire into such issues.

Though Shyam was a case of Steven Johnson syndrome, the cause of death was Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). The boy had acquired a respiratory infection two days ago, even though he was in the intensive care unit (ICU).

`Infection rate high'

Doctors point out that the infection rate in the ICUs in the MCH was alarming owing to over crowding. The boy had a constant stream of visitors, including the media, it is pointed out. The focus of the case has all along been whether the boy was administered wrong drugs.

An inquiry should be conducted as to whether he was provided adequate care after he developed the drug reaction and the real cause of death

The DME was admitted to the medical intensive care unit (MICU) on Thursday evening after she collapsed due to high blood pressure. Her condition is reported to be stable.

Police register case

The city police have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with the death of Shyam. The police said the case was registered on the basis of a complaint given by the boy's uncle. The accused in the case are yet to be named.

The other sections in the case are causing grievous hurt and negligence.

The police are awaiting the detailed post-mortem examination report in the case.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala

News Update

Stories in this Section