Shamna Tasnim death: House surgeons flay suspension

Kochi: House surgeons at the Ernakulam Government Medical College have hit out against the suspension of Dr Jilse George and the PG student Dr Bino Jose over the death of medico Shamna Tasnim. The house surgeons association in a statement on Thursday night said that Shamna died because of lack of basic facilities at the medical college. “Adrenaline to save Shamna, the suction apparatus and oxygen mask were not available in the ward where she was admitted. When attempts were made to take her to ICU, there were not enough attenders and trolley too. There was a delay of 20 minutes in taking her to ICU. Her life could have been saved if the delay was avoided,” the statement said.

They said that the promise to meet the deficiencies at the medical college by the authorities, made in the aftermath of her death, is yet to be met. The house surgeons demanded withdrawal of the suspension and steps to ensure that the fate of Shamna does not visit another medical student in furure.The association said that the doctors who treated Shamna took the steps to rescue her life within the constraints imposed by the medical college facilities.

The students of the college had launched an agitation demanding that certain immediate necessities of the college should be met after Shamna died. The cost for this was calculated to be Rs 1 crore. The equipment and facilities promised in this regard by the authorities are yet to be installed at the medical college despite a visit by the Health Minister K K Shylaja and the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to the medical college. The Health Minister is scheduled to make another visit to the medical college on Saturday.