Deaths after MCH fire: Probe sought

T'puram: State human rights commission called for a high-level probe into the fire that broke out in surgical ICU of multi-specialty block at Govt Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, following allegations of suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths of five patients who were shifted from the ICU.SHRC chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas issued the directive, taking suo motu cognisance of media reports.The panel instructed additional chief secretary of health department to conduct a detailed and transparent inquiry into the matter. The probe is expected to examine the sequence of events, including the timeliness and adequacy of measures taken to evacuate patients from the ICU, the exact causes of the five deaths, findings from postmortem reports, and expert opinions from forensic specialists. A comprehensive report compiling these details must be submitted to the panel within five weeks. The inquiry will also include recording statements from doctors, hospital staff, bystanders and relatives of the deceased. The commission further directed that all relevant hospital records, postmortem certificates, and forensic findings be submitted along with the report. Authorities have also been asked to verify whether relatives of the deceased have lodged formal complaints and, if so, whether first information reports have been registered. Additionally, director of medical education has been asked to file a separate report on the incident. SHRC mandated that representatives of state govt and the DME appear at its sitting on May 8.A few of the relatives of the deceased alleged that the fatalities occurred due to the fire. However, hospital authorities denied allegations, saying that the patients were shifted to another ward and there have been no casualties. However, the family members are claiming that lapses during the emergency evacuation led to their death. The fire incident occurred on March 17, and the allegations are that five patients admitted to the surgical unit died in the subsequent days.