Protest in Kerala after suspected 'medical negligence' surfaces

A group of people staged a protest after a woman from Alappuzha was administered chemotherapy despite her not having cancer at the Kottayam Medical College hospital. The state's Human Rights Commission registered a case for suspected medical negligence.

Kottayam: A group of people protested in Kottayam after a woman was administered chemotherapy, despite her not having cancer, and demanded strict punishment for the negligence of the hospital authorities.

Meanwhile, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission on Monday registered a case for suspected medical negligence.

Justice (Rtd) Antony Dominic directed the Director of Medical Education to file a detailed report on the episode in three weeks time and asked the Superintendent of the Kottayam Medical College, where the chemotherapy was given to file an urgent report.

The incident had occurred after Rajani from Alappuzha was given the first dose of chemotherapy at the Kottayam Medical College hospital for treatment.

Medical professionals at the Kottayam Medical College though said that the treatment was taken up based on reports from a private laboratory here, which had identified the tumour as cancerous.

After the first dose was administered, Rajani lost all her hair.

Following which her sample was sent to the state capital where separate tests done at the Regional Cancer Centre and in the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College pathology department found out that her tumour was benign.

The Kerala government also ordered a probe. State Health Minister K.K. Shailaja spoke to the patient on Monday and assured her that in case she required further treatment, it would be taken care of by the state government.