Kerala’s Health Minister, Veena George, made a firm commitment to the Assembly today: rigorous action will be taken against the doctor and medical staff whose “negligence” led to a serious incident at the Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital in 2023. A central venous catheter, a vital device for administering medication, was reportedly not removed from a patient after her thyroid surgery.
Responding to concerns raised by Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, Minister George confirmed that a high-level committee of government medical experts, including specialists from the Sree Chitra Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, is diligently assessing how to safely extract the “guide wire” from the patient without causing further complications.
The Minister also assured the house that the government would fully cover all the patient’s medical expenses and guarantee access to the best available specialized care.
Minister George revealed that an inquiry panel has been formed to thoroughly investigate this case of alleged medical negligence.
The patient initially underwent surgery to remove an enlarged thyroid gland. Subsequent pathological examination of the removed tissue revealed a diagnosis of thyroid cancer, for which she is currently receiving treatment at the Regional Cancer Centre.
During the ongoing investigation, the patient provided her testimony to the inquiry panel, presenting documents detailing her two-year ordeal. The panel also questioned the implicated doctor and collected statements from other paramedical staff, including nurses, who were involved in the operation. Concurrently, the Cantonment police in Thiruvananthapuram are conducting their own investigation into the alleged negligence.
Minister George reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards medical negligence and stated that they eagerly await the comprehensive inquiry report.
Mr. Satheesan highlighted that the General Hospital staff and doctor allegedly disregarded the patient’s persistent complaints of post-operative discomfort for an extended period. He noted that the guide wire, over the past two years, has become almost fused with the central artery, making its removal exceptionally challenging.
Privacy Breach Concerns Raised
In addition, Mr. Satheesan criticized the Legislative Assembly Secretariat for potentially breaching the patient’s privacy by publicly disclosing her identity, address, and medical history in a written response to a question posed in the House.
Speaker A.N. Shamseer acknowledged the concern and pledged to instruct the Legislative Secretariat to review the matter and redact any identifying details to safeguard the patient’s privacy.