Shamna's death: Forensic doctor opposes police move

KOCHI: Even as relatives of medico Shamna Tasnim expressed surprise over the police move to consult another forensic surgeon on the medical board report before deciding on referring it to the apex medical board at the state level, another forensic surgeon has questioned the move. “It is surprising. The police should have referred the case to the apex medical board straightaway. Are they referring it because the forensic surgeon on the medical board Dr Liza John registered a dissenting note? Or is it not digestible for them?  Why are they not referring the opinion of the legal expert on the board to another legal expert? The standard procedure in such cases is to refer it to the apex medical board straightway,” said Dr B. Krishnan, forensic surgeon with Alappuzha TD Medical College.

Shamna’s father K.A. Abootty had requested the District Medical Officer Dr N.K. Kuttappan who headed the medical board to include specialists from medical colleges on the board. However, he rejected it and insisted on retaining the anaesthetist and cardiologist from the General Hospital and none of their opinions are put to scrutiny now. There are allegations of close associations of doctors who are facing charges and the specialists on the board.

Dr Liza John who recorded the dissenting note points to the contradictions in the nurses record and doctors’ case sheet. She also pointed out to the need to question witnesses to prove the truth. “Taking into consideration all the above facts and observations, I am of the opinion that there is want of reasonable skill and care in the treatment of Shamna Thesneem,” she concludes in her report.