Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan on Thursday said a senior resident doctor at the government medical college hospital has been suspended in connection with a maggot infestation in the leg of a patient who underwent surgery there a few days ago.
Muraleedharan made the submission in the House in response to criticisms from the CPI(M)-led LDF opposition regarding some recent incidents of alleged medical negligence.
The minister said that the panel of senior doctors constituted to look into the matter found lapses on the part of the treating doctor and he has been suspended pending a disciplinary enquiry against him.
He said that the action was taken despite there being no written complaint from the patient's family.
"Action was taken based on news reports of the incident," he said.
The minister also referred to media reports of a man falling from the bed of the Thiruvananthapuram medical college and dying and said that the postmortem report of the deceased was received on Wednesday night.
According to the report, there is an injury to the head and further steps will be taken in accordance with it, he said.
He said that with regard to a PG student being bitten by a snake at the Thrissur Medical College, it did not occur inside the operation theatre but outside the hospital building.
The minister said that as part of the initiative, started by him, to ensure cleanliness at all government medical colleges in the state, the undergrowth around the Thrissur Medical College was cut down and at that time, a snake present there went and hid under a nearby car.
When the student was getting inside the car, she stepped on it and it bit her, he said.
"So, it did not happen inside the operation theatre as suggested by you (opposition)," Muraleedharan said.
The minister said that a pharmacist of a government hospital was also suspended for giving wrong eye medication to a child who suffered a burning sensation in the eyes after using it and had to go to a private hospital to get relief.
Muraleedharan said that while medical negligence can happen at any time, on receiving information or complaint about it, a detailed enquiry should be carried out and action should be taken against those responsible.
"That is the government's responsibility. Instead of doing that, blaming the system as being faulty and shirking all responsibility is not the correct way. If system is faulty, what is the need for a minister or officials?" he asked.
He was taking a dig at former minister Veena George who, while heading the Health Department, had said that there were systemic issues with the healthcare system.
The minister said that all complaints would be looked into and action will be taken where required.
Thiruvanathapuram | Kerala Devaswoms Minister K Muraleedharan on Thursday said the government cannot hand over the probe in the Sabarimala gold loss cases to the CBI as the investigation is being carried out by an SIT appointed by the Kerala High Court.
Muraleedharan said that at the moment the government does not know how the probe is proceeding as the reports regarding it are directly given to the High Court by the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Once the SIT files the chargesheet, we will know the investigation details and can find out if it has been carried out properly, he said.
"At that point, we can hand over the probe to the CBI. The government will not protect anyone who stole the gold of Lord Ayyappa. They will go to jail. That is the stand of the Congress, UDF and the government," Muraleedharan said.
The minister was referring to queries from BJP MLAs B B Gopakumar and V Muraleedharan as to why the probe in the Sabarimala gold loss cases are not being handed over to the CBI.
The SIT is investigating the alleged misappropriation of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and the door frames of the Sreekovil (sancxtum sanctorum) at Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala.