The Kerala state government has appointed Dr GS Harikumaran Nair as the inquiry officer into the alleged medical negligence resulting in the death of a Covid patient at Kalamassery Medical College Hospital (MCH). Dr Harikumaran is the special officer, Directorate of Medical Education.
The inquiry is in connection with the allegation raised by Dr Najma Salim and nursing officer Jalaja Devi, with regards to the death of a Covid patient due to negligence. After the nursing officer and doctor levelled the allegation, relatives of more patients have come forward with complaints of alleged medical negligence against the authorities of the MCH.
Principal Secretary (health) Rajan N Khobragade has asked Dr Harikumaran to submit the report within seven days. The state government also asked the inquiry officer to find details on the MCH management of both Covid and non-Covid patients. The inquiry officer will also be inspecting the institution’s quality service.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the public has realised that the Kalamassery Hospital controversy is not true. "The government has noticed isolated efforts by several doctors to make it appear that everything is out of control. Such actions will be taken seriously," the CM added.
"The medical college has done a good job in Coronavirus prevention activities so far," said the CM.
"The problem started after a misleading post came out. Even those waiting for a small window of opportunity to blame the government publicly said that the allegations raised were not technically right," he said.
Meanwhile, Kalamassery police has begun probe into a fourth complaint of alleged medical negligence by the MCH. The latest complaint came from relatives of Basheer, hailing from Kuttiady in Kozhikode, who passed away while undergoing treatment at the MCH. Basheer tested positive for Covid in July and was admitted to the hospital thereafter. The 70-year-old was under treatment for cancer at a city hospital before being shifted to MCH on July 24.
According a petition filed by Basheer’s son to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the patient had alleged that the hospital staff were not giving adequate medical attention to him and had asked to be shifted to another hospital for better treatment on July 25. He died the very same day. Police are investigating the four complaints.
