Patient dies after falling off unsafe bed in Thiruvananthapuram MCH; Relatives allege medical negligence

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An elderly man undergoing treatment for stroke at the Medical College Hospital died after falling from his bed. The victim was identified as Sukumara Pillai (87) of Pulinthitta Veedu, Vettuvazhi, Chadayamangalam. The incident took place in Ward 28 of the hospital.

Relatives said that Pillai was offered a bed without safety railings, and they also blamed the negligence of the hospital authorities. They alleged that Sukumara Pillai, who fell and hit his head, was not provided with timely treatment. The Medical College Police registered a case of unnatural death.

Sukumara Pillai, who collapsed at home on the 26th, was brought here from Paripally Medical College for specialist treatment. He fell from his bed on Saturday and sustained injuries to his head and eye. Although the nurses arrived and cleaned the wound, the doctor arrived only three and a half hours later. The wound was stitched by putting Pillai in the same bed.

Sukumara Pillai later fell unconscious and died at 8.45 am on Monday. Relatives also alleged that there was a failure to complete the formalities and release the body on time.

Sukumara Pillai's wife: Lakshmikuttyamma. Children: Girija Kumari, Shyamala Devi, Unnikrishna Pillai, Anilkumar.

The hospital authorities denied negligence in the incident and said that the bed with safety railing was unavailable at the time. The accident happened when the bystanders were with the patient. It was the doctor who asked to conduct a post-mortem to find out the cause of death. The medical college police said that it will be clear only after the post-mortem report whether the death was due to the impact of the fall or due to a stroke.