'Dr Harris spoke truth, we know everything'; Patient admits giving money for equipment

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Few patients in the medical college hospital came forward to vindicate the claims made by Urology department head Dr Harris Chirakkal. Patients admitted about pledging their jewellery and borrowing money to buy surgical equipment at the medical college to save their lives. The statements have yet again put the government in a fix.

Doctors will inform their 'helpless state' to bystanders of the patients; to force them to seek immediate solutions so as to not delay crucial surgeries. Relatives will pool as much money as they can and will hand it over to the hospital to buy equipment to help resume the surgeries. The only solace for patients and bystanders is the genial approach from doctors and the modest fee the hospital demands compared to private hospitals.

Doctors performing surgeries in such a way are deemed illegal and unethical; however, at the end of the day, the result is delivered, and a life is saved.

Rema, a native of Meeyannoor Kottara, Kollam, came to the medical college for the treatment of her sister Sati. She was admitted on April 5 for surgery to remove a stone in her bladder. The surgery was scheduled for the 7th. Saying that the equipment was faulty, it was postponed to the 10th of June. But on the night of the 8th, Dr. Madhavan called the relatives of five patients and revealed the ordeal faced by the hospital. Sati was a worker in a cashew factory, and her meagre earnings would not in any way meet the humongous financial demand. The doctors, however, reiterated their helpless state and saw no other way to perform the surgery.

A small fund was collected, and the surgery went smoothly. Rema said that the doctors handed them a proper receipt for the money used to purchase the equipment. Relatives said that if not for the money that day, the surgery would have been delayed.