Fresh hope in Shamna Tasneem case as Dr Saritha is made DHS

KOCHI: Even as the death of engineering student Jishnu Prannoy continues to rock the state, the probe into the death of MBBS student at Ernakulam Government medical college Shamna Tasneem under mysterious circumstances eight months ago fails to make any headway. However, in a new development, the additional director of health services Dr R.L. Saritha has now been appointed the new director of health services (DHS) in place of Dr R. Ramesh, consequent to an order of the Kerala Administrative Tribunal which set aside his appointment as DHS overlooking seniority. Dr Saritha had petitioned KAT in this regard. Dr Saritha is expected to take charge on Monday or Tuesday.

Dr Ramesh has been sitting over the issue of convening the apex medical board meeting to look into the matter of medical negligence in the case and had said that additional director of health service (Vigilance) also is needed on the board to decide on medical negligence. Crime Branch investigating the criminal case had made it clear a month ago that it was ready to sit with the apex medical board to make a thorough look into it.

Crime Branch team has taken all the evidence and recorded statements and is waiting for the decision of the apex board on medical negligence to proceed further. Informed circles said that with the preliminary and final departmental inquiries pointing to medical negligence in the case, it would be difficult for the apex medical board to arrive at a conclusion ignoring that aspect. They also said that the arrival of a woman as DHS also gives hopes since two women Dr Sreekumari and Dr Liza John, the Joint DME and forensic surgeon associated with the probes, turned crucial in changing the course of the case.