Murukan death: Inquiry on to find erring doctors

KOLLAM: A team of health department officials on Friday initiated a departmental inquiry into the death of Tirunelveli native Murukan in an ambulance after he was denied treatment at various hospitals in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram earlier this week. The team under director of health services Dr. R.L. Sarita inspected three private hospitals, Travancore Medicity, Azeezia medical college and Meditrina hospitals,  that allegedly denied emergency medical care to the accident victim. The team also recorded the statements from doctors and other staff of  these hospitals. The inquiry was initiated based on an order issued by  Health Minister K.K. Shailaja  to take stringent action against the perpetrators.

“We are collecting evidence about  medical negligence from these hospitals that  resulted in the death of Murukan. The investigation is in progress,” district Crime Branch  officer A. Ashokan told DC. The police have already collected evidence proving criminal negligence by the  hospital authorities,  including the doctors,  and  will seek legal opinion to arrest the culprits. A report by the district medical officer submitted before the collector has found serious lapses by the  private hospitals in providing medical care to the victim. The incident was a blatant violation of existing laws and court directives in this regard.

Murukan, 37, Thuruppu middle street, Thuraikkudi, Radhapuram in Tirunelveli,  died on Monday morning. He was  injured in a motorcycle accident at Chathannoor here and had to wait at least eight hours in an ambulance after being denied treatment at various private hospitals. The police registered cases against the private hospitals Medicity medical college, Azeezia medical college, Meditrina hospital, all in Kollam,  and SUT hospital and Thiruvananthapuram MCH for medical negligence and charged them with sections under IPC 304, culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The State Human Rights Commission has also registered a suo motu case  on the issue.

Guilty won’t be spared: Health minister K. K. Shailaja

Health minister K. K. Shailaja on Friday said that none of the doctors including that of the Thiruvananthapuram medical college would be spared if found guilty of lapses in Murukan incident. Shailaja said the issue was being probed by the inquiry committee and the police, and their reports were awaited. “Action will be taken once we receive the report. There is no question of sparing anyone,” she said.

At a press conference here, the minister said the steps would be taken to modernise and redesign the medical college trauma care and emergency care departments. The modernisation of trauma care centre is in the process. When asked about reports that two ventilators one at the burns ward and the other at organ transplant department available at the time when Murukan was denied treatment, the health minster all these aspects are pending inquiry. Health secretary Rajeev Sadanandan said that there were clear guidelines from Supreme Court on providing treatment to patient coming to hospital. If there was any violation, action will be taken accordingly.