Thiruvananthapuram: The family of a 26-year-old woman who died from a post-delivery infection at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College on Sunday alleged medical negligence by hospital authorities.
The deceased, identified as Shivapriya (26), wife of Manu from Karikkakam, passed away while undergoing treatment for an infection.
Her brother, Shivaprasad, told reporters that Shivapriya had delivered a baby boy on October 22 at the SAT Hospital and was discharged on October 25. However, after returning home, she developed a high fever and diarrhoea and was re-admitted to the hospital the next day.
As her condition deteriorated, she was shifted to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, where she was placed on ventilator support.
According to Shivaprasad, hospital authorities later informed the family that the infection was caused by Acinetobacter bacteria, which had affected her lungs and bloodstream. He alleged that the infection originated during her stay at the SAT Hospital and said the family had refused to accept the body until authorities clarified the exact cause of death.
The relatives also claimed that several other patients at the SAT Hospital had contracted infections during the same period.
“The hospital is trying to put the blame on the family and wash its hands of responsibility,” Shivaprasad alleged.
A senior official at the SAT Hospital, however, denied the charges, saying there was no evidence that Shivapriya contracted the infection during her stay.
“If the infection had started at the hospital, she would have shown symptoms before discharge. She had no such issues then, and no other patients have reported similar infections,” the official told PTI.
Meanwhile, BJP leader V. Muraleedharan and party workers staged a protest in front of the hospital, demanding action against those responsible.
“Without ensuring the patient's health condition, they discharged her. Later, when she was re-admitted, she was not given proper treatment,” Muraleedharan alleged.
He further claimed that the health sector in Kerala was “on a ventilator,” adding that numerous cases of medical negligence had been reported from the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College.
“The family should get justice, and action must be taken against those responsible for Shivapriya’s death,” he said.
With PTI inputs