Contradictions to the fore in Shamna Tasnim's death

KOCHI: The summary of clinical treatment records of Shamna Tasnim, the MBBS student who died at Ernakulam Government Medical College (EMC) on July 18, shows that she was shifted immediately from ward to ICU when she collapsed following administering of antibiotic injection Ceftriaxone. Interestingly, this is in contravention of the version of some of the witnesses at the scene who, requesting anonymity, had said that there was a delay of 20 minutes in shifting her from the ward to the ICU of EMC, due to unavailability of stretchers.

The preliminary post-mortem report of Dr Liza John, assistant professor of forensic medicine, Government TD Medical College, Alappuzha, contains the summary of clinical treatment records. It says, “At 3.30 pm she was Complained (sic) of decreased responsiveness following inj ceftriaxone full dosage. O|E (on examination) –PR (pulse rate) -Feeble. BP not recordable, advised to start CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and oxygen inhalation, duty AP (assistant professor) was informed.

At 3.30 pm case was seen by dr krishnamohan.  recordes (sic) as complaints of respiratory distress following injection ceftriaxone. Frothing from mouth+, patient not responding to calls, not responding to stimulus, pulse feeble BP not recordable gasping, managed with suction, o2 with bag mask ventilation, inj adrenalineiv, inj atropine iv, patient shifted immediately to ICU. At 3.35 pm patient incubated.”

There have also been allegations that the adrenaline injection to resuscitate the patient was not available in the ward while a senior health department official citing the joint director of medical education (JDME) led committee report had told DC that not even the provision to give oxygen was available in the ward. More than one and a half months after the death the JDME report has not come to light while the police investigation is dragging with the case not referred to the medical board.