‘Covid Patient death due to negligence’, Clarifies Doctor

Ernakulum: A Covid patient’s death in Kerala occurred due to negligence. A doctor from Kalamassery Medical College has confirmed that the Covid patient had died due to negligence. Dr. Najma from Kalamassery Medical College has clarified that the  Covid patient's death due to negligence from the concerned personnel. Though he had a mask, the ventilator tube was not connected. This had implicated in the death of the patient.

Earlier, an audio clip had surfaced which claimed that a Covid patient, who underwent treatment in the hospital had died due to a disconnected ventilator tube. Based on the audio clip, the Health Minister KK Shailaja had prompted the suspension of the nursing officer.

However, the RMO, Dr. Ganesh Mohan, had taken a stance that was supportive of the nursing officer, over the Covid patient's death due to medical negligence. He said that the nursing officer in question was on leave for one month. The nursing officer also did not have any involvement in Covid prevention activities. A written explanation from the nursing officer said that the audio clip was sent merely to caution her colleagues.

Dr. Najma said, “The voice clip was true. Similar situations have arisen during my duty time also. Though I didn’t file a written complaint, I complained orally. The issues were solved after this. The explanation given by the medical college authorities regarding the death of the COVID patient identified as Harris was incorrect. As cameras are installed in the hospital, the staff including doctors and nurses are more vigilant now. However, isolated incidents like this happen sometimes”.

The Covid patient’s death due to medical negligence had even drawn the attention of Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan who said such incidents “would dent the image of the state’s health sector”.

According to the audio clip, “Today, some doctors reported that oxygen masks were not found properly fitted on many patients. Masks were found displaced, not fitted to the face. Ventilator tubes should be seen whether properly inserted into nostrils. Doctors have reported that due to our negligence, many patients have lost their lives. Unluckily, if we are caught, that would become a major issue. A patient, Harris…ventilator tube was found not inserted into his nostril. In fact, he had been fit to be shifted out of ventilator support…His relatives have complained about death. But doctors have not disclosed anything to protect us. Otherwise, things would have become a big issue.”