Ma Subramanian, the Health Minister of the DMK government in Tamil Nadu expressed that the growing number of outpatients and inpatients in state-run medical colleges reflects the public’s confidence in government healthcare institutions.
This statement from the DMK Minister comes against the backdrop of a shocking incident where a woman who went to the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital for an angio treatment had to get her arm amputated allegedly due to medical negligence of the doctors.
Jyoti, a 32-year-old woman from Chennai, underwent angio treatment at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, was initially in good health. Following the procedure, her treated arm became swollen, and blood clots developed. Allegations of negligent treatment surfaced, with her husband, Zeenath, a physically challenged person, claiming the doctors provided no explanation and removed flesh from her limbs.
Doctors initially cited a blood clot as the issue but later indicated the need for amputations. Zeenath expressed distress over the situation, stating that the hospital’s carelessness had jeopardized Jyoti’s life, with talks of amputating both her arms and legs.
But this is not the only incident of medical negligence that made it to the news.
Here are few other instances of alleged medical negligence that have been recurrent in Tamil Nadu in the past eight months, some involving women and children.
Policeman’s Daughter’s Leg Amputated
Head Constable Kothandapani’s daughter had fallen into a coma due to alleged medical negligence while being treated at Egmore Children’s Hospital. The daughter, aged 10, had received government-prescribed medications since she was three, and Kothandapani claimed that incorrect diagnosis and treatment led to severe complications. He demanded action against responsible doctors and questioned the hospital’s lack of explanation. Instead of a response, the child was given a disability certificate from the National Children’s Commission.
Woman Dies After Caesarean Operation
In August 2023, at the Virudhachalam government hospital in Tamil Nadu, Kalpana, a pregnant woman, underwent a caesarean operation but tragically passed away. Her family was denied access to her initially, and when they finally saw her, she was unresponsive. Despite their efforts, Kalpana could not be revived, and the family accused the medical staff of negligence.
Football Player Dies After Botched Surgery
In November 2022, a tragic incident occurred involving Priya R, a 17-year-old football player who underwent knee surgery to address a ligament tear. Unfortunately, on the morning of November 15, 2022, she lost her life due to medical negligence, resulting in multiple organ failures. The negligence involved the use of a tightly bound band on her right leg following the surgery, which obstructed blood flow. Subsequently, doctors at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital recommended amputation of the leg due to severe muscle rot. Tragically, Priya succumbed to her deteriorating health, passing away at Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital in Chennai.
Toddler Dies After Amputation
In July 2023, a one-and-a-half-year-old toddler, whose right hand was amputated following a medical procedure, tragically passed away at the Government Institute of Child Health in Egmore. The child had been battling for life in the ICU and succumbed to his condition at around 5.40 a.m. The amputation had sparked allegations of medical negligence by the parents against doctors and nurses at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. However, an internal committee formed by the Health Department cleared the hospital staff, suggesting that a bacterial infection called Pseudomonas might have caused Ischaemia leading to limb amputation. The parents were dissatisfied with this explanation, as they claimed that the improper insertion of an IV cannula had caused gangrene.
Infant Dies After Vaccination
In July 2023, a 10-month-old girl tragically died after receiving a vaccination at an Anganwadi centre in Tanjore, Tamil Nadu. The parents, Geetha and Satish Kumar were called to the centre for their daughter Taranika’s vaccination. Shortly after receiving the vaccine, the child suffered an allergic reaction and lost consciousness. They rushed her to a local primary health centre where she received four more injections, which worsened her condition. Subsequently, they were transferred to Thanjavur Government Rasamirasudhar Hospital, where doctors declared the child dead. The parents suspected the vaccination was the cause of death and demanded a thorough investigation and appropriate action against those responsible.
These are just a few instances that has managed to make it to the news. It is possible that many more such cases either go unreported or gets deliberately buried.
Earlier in 2022, there were reports of medicine shortage in Tamil Nadu government hospitals across the state. These claims of medicine shortages were made by the doctors themselves. According to doctors, the drugs experiencing significant shortages include Ciprofloxacin, Furosemide, Omeprazole, Clopidogrel, and Cefotaxime. Primary Health Centres had a shortage of medicines for snake bite. In addition to these medications, hospitals in Tamil Nadu were grappling with a scarcity of antibiotics and intravenous fluids, which had severely hampered the operations of medical institutions, including medical college hospitals. Injections including Paracetamol, Diclofenac, Cefotaxime, Ceftriaxone and IV Infusion fluids were in acute shortage in the state. But, the DMK Health Minister Ma Subramanian rubbished the reports saying that there was no shortage of medicines and instead asked people to register a complaint with the helpline number 104 in case there was shortage.
The healthcare system in Tamil Nadu is grappling with serious problems with the poor becoming victims. It is high time the DMK government which thumps its chest about the “Dravidian Model” and Tamil Nadu being a forerunner in healthcare gets its act together.
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