A cloud of tension descended upon Kunnamkulam on Thursday night after Elyas Muhammed, a 49-year-old man, tragically passed away shortly after undergoing hernia surgery at a private hospital. His grieving relatives, alongside local residents, quickly gathered, vehemently alleging medical negligence as the cause of his untimely death.
The unfortunate incident unfolded at Ittimani Hospital, located on Guruvayur Road. Muhammed, who hailed from Chiramanengad in Thrissur, had been admitted to the facility earlier that Thursday afternoon, around 4:30 p.m., seeking treatment for his condition.
Hospital doctors reportedly advised an immediate hernia operation, which proceeded that same evening. Tragically, just hours later, around 8:30 p.m., Muhammed succumbed, passing away shortly after the surgical procedure was completed.
In the wake of his death, enraged relatives and concerned local residents swiftly converged outside the hospital. They voiced strong accusations of significant lapses in treatment and alleged grave errors in the administration of anesthesia. The emotional protest quickly intensified, leading to a tense standoff with hospital staff, ultimately necessitating police intervention to re-establish calm and order.
Hospital authorities, however, vehemently refuted these claims of negligence. They stated that Muhammed experienced acute respiratory distress during the operation, asserting that all established medical protocols and procedures had been meticulously followed throughout his treatment.
Muhammed’s relatives, conversely, argued that the hernia surgery itself was uncalled for and had been performed with undue haste. They made a firm demand: the official cause of death must be recorded as medical negligence before they would agree to accept his body for final rites.
In response to the escalating situation, police have officially registered a case of unnatural death. The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) for Kunnamkulam will spearhead the investigation, which is set to thoroughly examine all aspects, including potential medical lapses.
Muhammed’s post-mortem examination has been scheduled for Friday at Thrissur Medical College Hospital, a critical step in determining the exact cause of death.