'Did not inform about eyeball removal surgery'; youth and family files complaint against Thrissur Medical College

THRISSUR: A youth and his family have come forward with a complaint alleging that his eyeballs had to be removed due to medical negligence. Sanoop, a native of Trikkur in Thrissur, and his mother, Valsala, have raised the allegations against the Thrissur Medical College. The family also accused Dr Praveen of Thrissur General Hospital of demanding bribes from patients.

"The doctor's signature is needed to get free medicines. When I entered Dr Praveen's room with the files for signature. I saw a woman handing him Rs 200. Realising that I had noticed this, the doctor grabbed the files from my hand and threw them away. The doctor, as well as the nurses, scolded me for entering the room without permission," Valsala said.

"When I told a nurse that the file had to be signed before 10 a.m., she got the doctor’s signature. However, the patients and bystanders nearby said that the doctor would not come to treat without being paid. Even after three days, when the doctor did not come to see my son, we went to the doctor’s clinic in Thrissur town and paid 1,500 rupees. We collected that money by gathering the small amounts of ten and fifty rupees that people gave us for tea when they came to see my son. It was only the day after we paid the money that the doctor came to examine my son,” Valsala alleged.

Sanoop and his family approached the media the other day with their complaint. They alleged that he lost both his eyes after visiting Thrissur Medical College in 2023 for treatment of knee pain. The family said they still do not understand what exactly happened during the course of treatment.

Sanoop, a tile worker who supported his family, had sought treatment after knee pain began affecting his ability to work. According to the family, he was initially treated for knee pain while lying on the hospital floor. He later experienced pain and swelling at the site where a cannula had been inserted in his hand. Though they informed the nurses, they claim their concerns were ignored and his condition worsened, following which he was shifted to the ICU. The family also alleged that hospital authorities did not adequately inform them about his medical condition. They were later told that eye surgery was required, but, according to them, they were not clearly informed that the procedure would involve the removal of his eyeballs.