Kozhikode Medical College Hospital Acquitted of Medical Negligence Charges

Refuting the accusation of alleged medical negligence made by the family of a 45-year-old patient, the staff of Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (MCH) has been acquitted from charges of administering wrong medicine that resulted in her death after the post-mortem report revealed 'No medical negligence.'

The family members of the patient, K.T. Sindhu, a native of Koodaranhi, earlier accused one of the nurses at the hospital of alleged medical negligence that led to her death after administering a wrong injection.

However, the post-mortem of the patient revealed that she had died from anaphylaxis - a severe allergic reaction. Before injecting the full dose, the nurse tested a shot of 'crystalline penicillin' on the patient's arm and found no allergic reaction. The woman died from the side effects of the medicine which caused her internal organs to fail.

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Sindhu, who was admitted to the hospital's casualty ward with dengue fever symptoms, was in a good condition on Thursday morning but soon she died after getting the injection. Her husband claimed that even though the doctor prescribed the correct medicine, the nurse chose the wrong one.

Angered by the alleged negligence, her husband filed a complaint at the Medical College Police against the hospital staff under Section 304 (A) of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with causing death by negligence, and the staff was booked by the police. The Medical College police is currently investigating the case after registering the complaint.

The hospital authorities earlier said that the medicine was given in a form of an injection after observing that no allergic reaction was found in the woman's body. An internal inquiry into the complaint was also announced by the authorities on Thursday, The Hindu reports.

In response to the allegation of medical negligence, MCH authorities said that the hospital had no part in the death of the woman. In this case, the hospital staff on duty handled the treatment process with utmost care. The allegation was an attempt to tarnish the reputation and image of the hospital.

Moreover, Health Minister Veena George on Friday dismissed the allegation made against the nurse and her statement came right after the report of the autopsy of the woman that no medicine was wrongly administered to her. She sought a detailed report from the hospital authorities.

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