Family of woman alleges medical negligence at Manjeri MCH

Kozhikode: Yet another allegation of alleged medical negligence has surfaced, with the family of a 73-year-old woman alleging that a nerve in her leg was severed during surgery at Govt Medical College Hospital (MCH), Manjeri.

The family has filed a complaint with district medical officer (DMO) demanding action against those responsible. However, MCH superintendent has denied allegations of medical negligence in orthopaedics department and submitted a report to DMO, sources said.

Parvathi from Nilambur underwent surgery on May 12 after approaching the hospital with leg pain. Surgery was performed on right hip, and necessity and implications of the procedure were explained to relatives, who then signed a consent form. There were no complications during surgery, the report claimed. An X-ray was taken four hours post-surgery and doctors reported no issues. However, when changes in the colour of her leg and coldness were noticed at night, duty doctor was informed, who then recommended a scan.

Allegation of the family is that hospital authorities told them that there were no doctors available to conduct the scan and that she needed to be urgently transferred to MCH, Kozhikode. The family claimed that doctors at Kozhikode also told them that there was a 95% chance of losing mobility in the leg.

Report of the superintendent, however, says that the patient was moved to a room after three hours of observation in the post-operative ICU. Following findings in the ward examination, she was transferred to MCH, Kozhikode, for vascular surgeon services. Superintendent’s report states that there was no deliberate error.