Patient Dies After Falling From Bed at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College

Thiruvananthapuram: An 87-year-old patient admitted to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital after suffering a stroke died after falling from his hospital bed. Sukumara Pillai (87), of Pulinthitta House at Vettuvazhi in Chadayamangalam, died at 8.45 am on Monday. The preliminary assessment is that a head injury sustained in the fall caused his death. His relatives have filed a complaint against the hospital with the Medical College police.

The family alleged serious lapses on the part of the hospital in caring for the unconscious patient and providing proper treatment. They said they had specifically requested that grills be placed along the sides of the bed to prevent him from falling, but the concerned staff failed to act on the request. The relatives also alleged that there was a delay in providing emergency treatment after he fell from the bed.

Sukumara Pillai collapsed at around noon on Thiruvonam Day while preparing the Onam feast at home. His children, who live nearby, immediately reached the house and took him by ambulance to the Medical College Hospital in Parippally, Kollam. As his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital later that evening. After preliminary examinations, he was moved to Ward 28.

He fell from the hospital bed at around 1.30 pm on Saturday. His relatives immediately informed the staff in the duty room. However, despite suffering serious injuries to his head and around his eye, the patient was kept on the bed while the wound was sutured. Some time later, he developed heavy bleeding from the wound and breathing difficulties. Although a neurology department doctor examined him, the family said they were told that further treatment or surgery would not be beneficial because of his advanced age.

The hospital authorities also allegedly failed to inform the police about his death in the morning in a timely manner. There was also a considerable delay in completing the procedures and handing over the body to the family.

Since the present government came to power, incidents linked to negligence in the healthcare sector have become frequent. In June, an elderly man who was admitted to the observation room at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College also died after falling from a hospital bed. Other incidents, including the death of a patient after being administered the wrong medicine and the death of a critically ill patient while waiting in a queue, had also triggered major controversies.