Kozhikode Medical College incident; those responsible for lapse must be found

The incident that took place in the emergency department of the new building of the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital is extremely unfortunate. The explosion in the UPS room caused heavy smoke to spread to all four floors of the building. Following this, more than 200 patients, including those in the emergency department, were evacuated from there. A major accident was averted as the hospital staff, including doctors, locals and bystanders, quickly evacuated the patients. Five bodies were shifted to the morgue during the incident. Although there were allegations that they died of smoke inhalation, the hospital authorities denied this. The principal informed that three deaths occurred just before the accident, one on the way to the hospital and the patient who was on a ventilator died after being shifted from there.

The truth of the incident should be brought out through an objective investigation. If anyone has failed in the performance of their duties, they should be brought before the law and given appropriate punishment. Moreover, the government should bear the expenses of those transferred from the medical college to a private hospital. Kozhikode Medical College Hospital is the largest healthcare centre in Malabar. More than 3,000 patients come there for treatment every day. This hospital is also a refuge for thousands of poor and ordinary people. This hospital is staffed by service-minded doctors, nurses and employees from various categories. At the same time, it cannot be forgotten that some frequent unpleasant incidents tarnish the reputation of the hospital.

Harshina, a woman who got scissors stuck in her stomach during a cesarean section, has been knocking on the doors of the authorities for eight years for justice. Despite all the evidence against them, the authorities are not ready to admit their lapse. A woman was sexually assaulted in March 2023, while lying down after a thyroid surgery. The attendant was arrested on the complaint, but there was even an attempt to portray the survivor as mentally ill to save the accused. The police were late in arresting the perpetrators. Later, efforts were made to reinstate them in service. The survivor continues her battle for justice. The incident of the rod for the legs being mistakenly used during an arm fracture surgery also happened in this hospital. Kozhikode Medical College is also under the shadow of allegations in the incident of surgery on the tongue of a four-year-old girl who came for surgery on her finger.

The hospital's reputation for its commendable service is being tarnished by serious negligence on the part of a small section of employees. There is a section that thinks that they will be protected no matter what. Emergencies like the one that has just happened would not have occurred if proper action had been taken in all the incidents mentioned here. Service organizations play an important role in guiding employees on the right path and convincing them that they will be punished if they do something wrong. However, in the effort to recruit and retain people in the organization, no one bothers to convince them about their duty. When they can unwind in their seats, not just this but worse lapses can occur. Strict action must be taken to control those who have the attitude of 'Who is there to question us?' Let a fair investigation be conducted into the incident that has just happened.