Kerala hospital row: Woman dies after suspected acinetobacter infection

Relatives said that the doctors at the medical college confirmed that she was infected by Acinetobacter infection. They also said that the hospital authorities were trying to put the blame on the family for the infection.

Thiruvananthapuram: A 26-year-old woman died allegedly following a bacterial infection caused while under treatment at a government hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.

The incident further triggered protests against the frequent lapses in the state public health sector.

Shivapriya (26), who was admitted to the SAT hospital attached to the Thiruvananthapuram medical college for delivery, died on Sunday. Her relatives were staging a protest with her newborn.

According to her relatives, she delivered at the SAT hospital on October 22 and was discharged on October 25. She had a mild fever which aggravated and hence she was taken to the medical college hospital on October 26.

As her condition worsened with fluid collection in lungs she was put on ventilator support for nearly one week. But she died by Sunday morning.

Relatives said that the doctors at the medical college confirmed that she was infected by Acinetobacter infection. The bacterial infection was generally caused from hospitals. They also said that the hospital authorities were trying to put the blame on the family for the infection.

With her relatives and political parties staging a protest, Kerala health minister Veena George directed the director of medical education to submit an inquiry report in two days. Hospital authorities said that Sivapriya was not having any health issues while being discharged. The next day she was readmitted with fever and diarrhea.

BJP leader and former union minister V Muraleedharan said that even as economically weak patients were supposed to get free treatment, Sivapriya's family was made to spend around Rs 1 lakh for the treatment.

The fresh allegation came up amidst the row over the death of 48-year-old autorickshaw driver Venu from Kollam allegedly following delay in giving proper treatment. Despite being hospitalised on October 31 with chest pain, Venu died on November 5 night at the Thiruvananthapuram medical college hospital.

Audio messages of Venu saying that he did not even get the consideration even of a dog at the hospital and the doctors and hospital staff would be responsible in case of his death had come out.

Over the years a series of allegations of medical negligence came up against the state health sector. Dr Haris Chirakkal, Head of Urology department of Thiruvananthapuram medical college hospital, had repeatedly made social media posts citing inadequate infrastructure in the medical colleges in the state.