The family of Palode resident Akhil Mohan, 35, has filed a police report claiming that their loved one died as a result of medical malpractice at a city hospital. On Monday, truck driver Akhil had a heart attack. He was initially transported to Nedumangad Taluk Hospital after collapsing at Venjaramoodu. He was then sent to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital due to the seriousness of his illness. But since Akhil was having trouble breathing and the Medical College Hospital didn’t have any beds available, he was transferred to a different private hospital. The medical professionals there verified that he had experienced a heart attack. By one a.m. on Tuesday, Akhil was transferred to SK Hospital per their recommendation.
Akhil’s family gave the doctors in the casualty department the medical records when they arrived at SK Hospital. Nevertheless, the family maintains that there were no cardiac problems and that the doctors failed to acknowledge the seriousness of Akhil’s condition. According to Abhilash, Akhil’s uncle, junior cardiologists made the initial assessment of Akhil while experienced cardiologists refused to treat him, saying Akhil was stable. Akhil finally needed to be put on a ventilator as his health worsened.
Akhil’s family suspected something was wrong and called the Poojappura police. The medical team revised their evaluation after speaking with the police and realizing that Akhil was in critical condition. They recommended moving him to a different hospital so that he might receive better care. But before Akhil could be moved, the medical staff announced that he had passed away from a major heart arrest. Abhilash conveyed his dismay and incredulity, saying that the abrupt change in the physicians’ opinion and the notification of his death felt odd.
The Poojappura police station inspector verified that although Akhil’s family had orally expressed their suspicions of medical malpractice, they had not yet made a formal complaint. Because Akhil lived in the Aruvikkara police station, the family also filed a complaint there. The Aruvikkara police, however, stated that since the event took place under the Poojappura police station’s jurisdiction, they were unable to file a complaint.
The chief executive officer of SK Hospital, Dr. Sandhya Pradeep, refuted the accusations, saying that no hospital employees had committed any wrongdoing. She clarified that before to coming to SK Hospital, Akhil had been admitted to two private hospitals in Sasthamangalam and Thiruvananthapuram, including the Medical College Hospital. Dr. Sandhya said that Akhil was given a heart-related diagnosis and told he needed to have an angiography when he first arrived at SK Hospital. Subsequent investigation, however, indicated that an angiography was not required because of his seriously damaged lungs.
Additionally, Dr. Sandhya stated that Akhil died on Tuesday night at around eight o’clock before any major medical procedures could be completed. She continued by saying that because of the things that Akhil’s family members had done, the atmosphere in the hospital had gotten hot and the police had been summoned. Dr. Sandhya said that the police would transport Akhil’s remains to the mortuary on Wednesday and that the hospital had asked for a postmortem examination in order to maintain openness. The postmortem had been discussed with and approved by the family.
This tragic incident underscores the complex dynamics often involved in medical emergencies, where the outcomes can lead to accusations of negligence and demands for accountability. The family’s perspective is one of anguish and suspicion, fueled by what they perceive as inconsistent and inadequate responses from the hospital staff. On the other hand, the hospital maintains that it provided appropriate care under difficult circumstances, emphasizing the pre-existing severe health conditions that contributed to Akhil’s demise.
The results of the postmortem examination will be critical in establishing the precise cause of death and if medical malpractice played a factor as the police pursue their inquiry. The event also draws attention to more general problems with the healthcare system, like the lack of beds, the need for improved communication between medical staff and patients’ relatives, and the difficulties experienced by doctors in emergency situations. The family of Akhil is hoping that a comprehensive inquiry will provide answers and, if needed, hold those accountable for the untimely death of a loved one.
SOURCE:
THE INDIAN EXPRESS