Delay in organ transplant surgery; kidney patient dies, allegations against Thiruvananthapuram Medical College

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It has been alleged that a kidney patient died due to delay in organ transplant surgery. The dead has been identified as Suresh Kumar (62), a native of Karakonam. Allegations have been raised against Thiruvananthapuram Medical College.

According to a complaint, the surgery was delayed for four hours. The kidney was brought from Kochi on Sunday evening. The journey was not delayed and the ambulance had arrived at the hospital at around 5:30 pm, said the ambulance driver.

According to the medical college authorities’ explanation, there has been no fault from their part. The patient was in a critical condition and had arrived from home. That is why, there was a delay. The surgery began at around 8 pm, said the authorities.

Health Minister orders probe into the incident

Health Minister Veena George has ordered a probe into the incident following the news about the delay in organ transplant surgery in Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. The minister directed the additional chief secretary of the health department to immediately investigate the incident and submit a report. Strict action will be taken against those responsible. A high level meeting will be convened immediately in connection with the incident, said the minister.

Two doctors suspended

The Health Department has suspended two doctors of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital in connection with the death of a patient after a kidney transplant. The suspended doctors are Dr. Vasudevan Potti, head of the Urology department and Dr. Jacob George, head of the Nephrology department.

The minister said the action was taken on the basis of a preliminary report submitted by the Additional Chief Secretary. She also said that a comprehensive probe will be conducted regarding the incident.

"The probe will assess if there was a failure of coordination. When the ambulance arrived, outsiders took the box containing the kidney. This had caused some confusion. There is a complaint about this. The cause of death will be known after the postmortem," the minister said.