Kerala Hospital under scrutiny after transwoman who alleged medical negligence ends life

Kochi: A city-based hospital has come under the radar after Kerala's first transgender radio jockey Anannyah Kumari Alex was found hanging at her residence Tuesday. The Police are suspecting it to be a suicide case.

Days before the tragedy, the 28-year-old had alleged medical negligence against the hospital following her Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS). However, the hospital has refuted all the allegations.

Also Read:Eminent Plastic Surgeon Dr Ramesh Chandra succumbs to cardiac arrest

A few weeks ago, Alex had stated that she was facing serious health issues following a sex-reassignment surgery she underwent in June last year. Complaining that even after a year of the surgery, she was unable to work due to severe physical pain, she alleged medical negligence and demanded justice.

The hospital, on the other hand, said that Alex had threatened to defame the facility. In a statement, Renai Medicity, a multi super-speciality hospital in Kochi, said the medical board constituted by the hospital as per Alex's request has found that there was "no medical negligence" in the treatment given to her.

The hospital even stated that Alex was happy at the time of discharge and also after the surgery. "But after six-seven months, she complained that the genital she got was not that beautiful which she expected. We informed her that another surgery can solve this issue. But she alleged it was medical negligence and demanded a huge amount as compensation," read the hospital's statement, quotes ANI.

It further said, "As per her request, we constituted a medical board and it found that there was no medical negligence. We also conveyed to her that we are ready to give all treatment documents in connection with her treatment to go legally if she is not satisfied with the treatment. But we were not ready to fulfill some of her demands." The hospital alleged that she was not happy when it denied fulfilling her compensation demand as she threatened to defame the hospital and its staff.

"Reacting to this, Alex challenged that she will defame the hospital, doctors and other hospital staff on social media and also within her friends' circle," the hospital said in the statement. 

Meanwhile, Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Wednesday ordered a probe into her death. In a statement, the Health Minister said that the Director of Health Department has been ordered to conduct a probe into the death. "A transgender organisation had also given complaint regarding this. An expert committee will be formed to study issues related with sex reassignment surgery," Health Minister Veena George told TNM.

Kalamassery police in Ernakulam district, who has registered a case on unnatural death in the incident, said that the death is suspected to be a suicide. 

Also Read:Doctors can conduct medical tests on accused in case of custodial torture: Kerala HC