Patient dies after wrong injection at Neyyattinkara General Hospital, State Human Rights Commission orders probe

Thiruvananthapuram: In a case of alleged medical negligence at Neyyattinkara General Hospital in Kerala, a 28-year-old woman died after a doctor allegedly gave her the wrong injection while undergoing treatment for kidney stones. 

The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) has initiated an investigation into the death of a woman following allegations from her husband regarding medical negligence leading to her death. KSHRC's acting chairperson and judicial member K Baijunath directed the Thiruvananthapuram District Medical Officer to provide a report within 15 days. 

The deceased woman Krishna Thankappan, from nearby Malayinkeezhu, breathed her last at the Government Medical College Hospital here in the morning.

A 28-year-old woman, who had fallen unconscious after allegedly being administered a wrong injection by a doctor at a state-run hospital five days ago, died here on Sunday, family sources said. 

As she fell unconscious and her condition became worse, Krishna was later shifted to the Medical College here, they said.

Based on a complaint filed by her husband Sharath, Neyyattinkara police registered a case against Dr Vinu under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita (BNS) on July 19. BNS 125 refers to acts endangering life or personal safety of others.

According to the FIR, the deceased woman, who already had some allergy issues, sought treatment from Dr Vinu for kidney stone-related ailments, adds news agency PTI.

The doctor showed negligence in performing his duty and administered some injection to the patient without conducting any allergy test on her, the FIR said.

As per a media report in TNIE, the victim's husband Sharat, Krishnapriya initially sought treatment at Thycaud government hospital on July 12 for severe stomach pain. She was diagnosed with kidney stones and referred to a surgeon. She was treated at the Taluk Hospital in Malayinkeezhu before being admitted to the Neyyattinkara General Hospital (GH) on July 15. There, her condition worsened after receiving intravenous medication, and she was swiftly transferred to the MCH seven days ago and put on ventilator support.

However, the Kerala Government Medical Officers' Association (KGMOA) has rejected the allegations of the woman's family against the doctor.

The association, in a statement, claimed that the injection given by the doctor was a usual one being administered on patients suffering from abdomen-related issues.

Anaphylaxis, a rapid and severe allergic reaction which can happen due to any medicine, might be the reason for the tragic condition of the woman, it said, news agency PTI reported.

"It cannot be considered as a treatment negligence," the KGMOA claimed.

Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor expressed condolences over the woman's demise and called for a thorough investigation into the allegations of medical negligence at the state-run hospital.