Police in Alappuzha district have booked the superintendent and staff of Haripad Taluk Hospital following the deaths of two dialysis patients, allegedly due to medical negligence. The case was registered on Monday after a complaint by the family of one of the deceased, officials said.
Allegations of Infection After Dialysis
According to the complaint, both patients developed fever and diarrhoea shortly after undergoing dialysis at the hospital on December 29. The families alleged that unhygienic conditions in the dialysis unit led to severe infections, ultimately causing the deaths, news agency PTI reported.
Patients Shifted, Deaths Followed
Both men were shifted to other hospitals after their condition worsened. Ramachandran (60), a resident of Haripad, died on December 31 while undergoing treatment at a multi-speciality hospital in Mavelikkara. The second patient, Majeed from Kayamkulam, passed away on December 30 at a government medical college hospital in the district.
Complaint Against Hospital Authorities
The FIR was registered based on the complaint filed by Ramachandran’s family. It alleged that the dialysis unit was being run negligently and that the hospital superintendent and staff were aware that the prevailing conditions posed a serious risk to patients’ lives but failed to take corrective measures.
Sections Invoked and Ongoing Probe
Police have booked the hospital superintendent and dialysis unit staff under Sections 125 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 106(1) (causing death by rash or negligent acts) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Meanwhile, the Kerala Health Department has shut down the dialysis unit and initiated a separate inquiry into the incident.
