Thiruvananthapuram: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), Kerala, has directed the State Government to pay ₹5 lakh as compensation to a patient who was trapped inside a malfunctioning lift at Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) for 42 hours in July 2025.
In its order, SHRC Chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas instructed that the compensation be paid within two months. The Commission clarified that the government may recover the amount from those responsible, including officials or service providers, in accordance with law.
Incident Details
- The patient, a resident of Pongumoodu, was trapped in the lift from 11:15 am on July 13, 2025, to 6:00 am on July 15, 2025.
- Despite being frequently malfunctioning, the lift was neither locked nor marked with any warning sign.
- The SHRC took suo motu cognisance based on media reports, alongside a separate complaint filed by the patient.
Findings of the Commission
The inquiry report revealed that:
- The lift had a history of repeated breakdowns, even after repairs.
- Authorities failed to exercise basic caution, despite the hospital receiving thousands of patients daily.
- The victim survived “only due to sheer luck”, as noted by the Commission.
Calling the lapse extremely serious, the SHRC observed:
“There was grave dereliction of duty and serious negligence on the part of the officials concerned, and the life of the patient could have been lost.”
Additional Directions
- The Medical College Hospital Superintendent has been directed to provide free medical treatment to the patient for both physical and mental trauma suffered due to the incident.
- Clinical psychological support must also be made available, if required.
- If lapses are found on the part of the lift servicing company, the government is free to initiate legal action against it.
- A compliance report must be submitted to the SHRC after payment of compensation.
The order underscores the Commission’s strong stance on patient safety, accountability, and human rights violations in public healthcare institutions.
