Probe ordered into ESI hospital deaths

Kollam: The Kollam district administration has ordered a probe into the death of two patients hours after angioplasty at the Heart Center of the ESI Hospital here.  Their relatives alleged they were due to medical negligence at the Center run by a doctor with a private hospital under PPP model referral system. Two patients, Usha and Sadasivan from Polayathode, had consulted the ESI Hospital and were referred to the Heart Center there last week. The patients underwent angioplasty on various days following which they breathed their last.  The relatives alleged medical negligence and blockaded the ESI medical superintendent demanding action against perpetrators on Monday.

“The allegation and the protest followed led to law and order situation. An expert team has been constituted consisting of the DMO, a cardiologist, and an anaesthetist. The team has been asked to report within two weeks,” said sub-collector Dr S. Chithra. The relatives of Sadasivan who died last week alleged they were not consulted before conducting angioplasty procedure.  He was admitted to the hospital with numbness on one of his hands and referred to the Heart Center. They allege he was not diagnosed with cardiac related issues in the preliminary check-up. 

Meanwhile, the doctor who led the surgery denied medical negligence and cited “diabetes” to be the reason for death. Under the referral system, the ESI Corporation pays out money for the treatments including surgery.  Earlier, the CBI had conducted raids at the ESI hospital for alleged financial misappropriation.