Lapse in kidney transplant surgery: Investigation to begin today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Kaumudi had revealed that there were serious lapses on the part of the doctors of the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College in the incident in which a kidney patient died due to a delay in surgery. The health department will start an investigation into the incident today. Although minister Veena George had ordered an investigation on Monday evening, an order tasking Additional Chief Secretary Asha Thomas with the probe was issued on Wednesday night.

The report may be submitted within a week. The postmortem report should be available by then. The probe team will look into whether there were any procedural failures before or after the surgery. Hospital Superintendent Nisaruddin, Mrithasanjeevani Nodal Officer Noble Greetius, and Heads of Urology and Nephrology gave a preliminary explanation to the Additional Chief Secretary. This will be examined and further clarification will be sought. The probe team will also look into current methods in organ transplantation

The government also issued an order yesterday suspending the accused Dr Vasudevan S and Dr Jacob George pending investigation. The reason for the delay in the suspension order was the delay in getting the information from the office of the Director of Health Education.