Woman's death at Kottayam Medical College: Probe finds lapses in treatment
Medical Negligence
Kottayam: Following the death of a woman at Kottayam Medical College Hospital, a probe ordered by the Director of Medical Education (DME) has found lapses in her treatment, Health Minister K Muraleedharan said. However, the minister declined to disclose the nature of the lapses identified by the probe.
According to the news reports, the patient, a resident of Puthuparambu, was undergoing treatment in the General Surgery ward when she died around 3.30 am on October 1. Following her death, her relatives filed a complaint with the Gandhinagar police alleging lapses in her treatment.
The woman had undergone laparoscopic surgery for a hernia at the hospital on September 18. According to her relatives, she was discharged on the third day after the procedure. After returning home, she developed a high fever and was readmitted to the hospital. Hospital authorities reportedly informed the family that the fever was caused by an infection.
Her condition subsequently deteriorated, prompting another admission on September 27. The family said doctors later performed open abdominal surgery as her health worsened. Despite continued treatment, her condition continued to decline, and she died in the early hours of October 1.
The DME had appointed a three-member panel to investigate allegations of medical negligence in her treatment. The panel's findings confirmed lapses, the minister said, without specifying what went wrong, reports Onmanorama.
Further details regarding the nature of the lapses and any action that may follow the probe were not disclosed by the minister.
Medical Dialogues had previously reported that a 49-year-old woman passed away while undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH), Kottayam, prompting her family to lodge a complaint alleging medical negligence. The deceased, identified as a native of Kothanallur, was undergoing treatment for excessive menstrual bleeding at the hospital’s gynaecology department.
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