The death of a High Court staff after a surgery at a private hospital in the city created tense moments on the hospital premises on Wednesday.
Kannan, 29, a native of Padamugal, Kakkanad, who was a driver with the Kerala High Court expired by 10.30 am at the Medical Trust Hospital. The family members and friends of Kannan alleged that his death was due to medical negligence and they staged a protest on the hospital premises.
Binish, a close friend of Kannan who had accompanied him to the hospital said, “Kannan was admitted to the Medical Trust Hospital on Tuesday at 7 pm for a surgery in his fractured right thumb. His thumb was fractured after a minor bike accident on Sunday. Kannan had gone to another private hospital in Kakkanad where they recommended a surgery. But it was very expensive so we decided to consult a doctor in the Medical Trust Hospital and visited the hospital on Monday. A surgery was fixed for Tuesday. Kannan was healthy and had ridden the bike to the hospital. The surgery was scheduled for 1 pm but it was delayed,” he said.
Binish said, “Kannan was taken to the operation theatre by 6 pm. By 10.30 pm, the hospital authorities told us that his state was serious and that he was fighting for life. We were shocked. By Wednesday morning the doctors declared him dead. We are sure that the death was caused due to medical negligence,” he said.
Haridas N K, general secretary, Kerala High Court Chauffeurs Association, also alleged medical negligence as the cause for the death. People from Kakkanad who assembled on the premises of hospital alleged that “Severe medical negligence caused the death”.
However Dr Mariya Varghese, medical superintendent of the hospital, ruled out medical negligence. “The cause of death was ‘Malignant Hyperthermia’, a rare medical condition. According to the medical literature, only one in million people suffers from this disorder. Only three cases have been reported in Kerala in recent history. It ruins the metabolic process and can lead to death.”
She said that Kannan was suffering from this disorder. “The surgery was successful. He spoke after the surgery. But he developed problems. We tried to resuscitate him. But he breathed his last by 10.30 am,” she said. Dr Vinod, head, Anaesthesia department, said that all mandatory procedures were followed before the surgery.
Circle Inspector G Venu said that police has registered a case for unnatural death. “Investigation will be based on the post-mortem report,” he said. The body was sent to Alappuzha Medical College for post-mortem.
Kannan is survived by father Appukuttan Nair, mother Saitha, wife Anu and a one-year-old child.