Government hospitals didn't diagnose disease correctly: Housewife dies of amoebic meningoencephalitis in private hospital

KOTTAYAM: A tragic case of alleged medical negligence has emerged following the death of Sindhu, a Kottayam resident. She succumbed to amoebic meningoencephalitis after a protracted struggle to secure adequate care within the public healthcare system. The deceased, wife of Shajimon, passed away at a private medical facility. She is survived by her husband and three children: Anand, Avani, and Aadi.

Her family alleges that a lack of timely diagnosis and critical shortages of medication at government hospitals worsened her condition. Sindhu’s son recently petitioned Health Minister Veena George, demanding a formal investigation into these systemic failures and the alleged negligence surrounding her treatment.

According to the complaint, Sindhu first visited Kottayam General Hospital on January 17, presenting with severe headaches and vomiting. The family asserts that despite three follow-up visits on January 20, 24, and 28, staff failed to perform a thorough diagnostic evaluation. Consequently, she was never admitted. She was finally admitted to Kottayam Medical College Hospital on January 29, before being transferred back to the district hospital for a fourteen-day period.

The family reports that her treatment was severely interrupted. They allege that essential injections were prematurely stopped due to a reported shortage of supplies. Following her readmission to the Medical College on February 17, her health declined rapidly. She was moved to the Intensive Care Unit on February 23 but was shifted back to a general ward the next day. Medical staff eventually advised the family to move her to another facility, citing a lack of necessary infrastructure. It was only after admission to a private hospital that clinical testing confirmed she was suffering from amoebic meningoencephalitis.

Funeral services will be held this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the WMM cemetery in Kunnumpuram.