The District Medical Officer’s (DMO) report on the death of Attapadi tribal Rangi, has observed “dereliction of duties” by the doctors and lack of infrastructure facilities, which had to be provided by the government.
District Medical Officer Venugopal’S observation in the report to health services director Jameela Balan has reinforced the earlier claim that Rangi had died for want of timely treatment.
Rangi, of Umathampady ooru in Attapadi, had died after she suffered chest pain and it was alleged that her condition had worsened as there was not enough number of doctors to treat her.
The incident had created ruckus in the Assembly on Monday when a submission was raised by CPM MLA K V Vijayadas.
Rangi had complained of chest pain, and was taken to the Pudur Primary Health Centre where there were only a nurse and a health inspector.
She was then brought to Kottathara tribal speciality hospital, but only an attender was present at the time.
The report pointed out that the Kottathara tribal speciality hospital needed to have nine doctors which include a superintendent, an assistant surgeon, and seven specialist doctors.
Currently, there were five doctors at the Kottathara tribal speciality hospital. On the day Rangi was brought to the hospital, four doctors were on duty while one of them had gone to Kozhikode as part of training.
The report pointed out that one of the main lacunae was the lack of accommodation facilities.
It said that as there was no quarters for doctors, the report recommended that instead of handing out a punishment of “suspension”, the doctors needed to be reprimanded for dereliction of duty.
If the doctors are suspended, the hospital would have to be closed down which will lead the situation from bad to worse in Attapadi.