Thiruvananthapuram, February 21 – Kerala Health Minister Veena George accused Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan of inciting protests over the alleged surgical error at the Government Medical College Hospital in Alappuzha, asserting that the government had already taken all necessary steps in the matter.
"I don't understand why this is happening. Everything that needed to be done has been done. What happened under the guise of protest is completely unacceptable," the Minister said, referring to the Youth Congress demonstration at her official residence when the protesters placed a wreath at the entrance.
The protest followed the incident in which a surgical instrument was allegedly left inside a patient's abdomen during a procedure at the medical college hospital in 2021. Youth Congress workers marched to the Minister's residence carrying a wreath, and reportedly breached police security around 8 a.m. to place it at the entrance of the house.
The police later removed the wreath.
The incident exposed a security lapse, with only three police personnel deployed at the Minister's residence at the time. Additional forces arrived nearly 15 minutes after the protest began.
Scuffles broke out as police attempted to arrest and remove the demonstrators, who resisted efforts to take those detained into custody. The protesters were eventually dispersed.
Meanwhile, the Ambalappuzha police have registered a case invoking Sections 125 and 125(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for endangering human life and personal safety.
Dr Lalithambika, the Head of the Department, has been named as the sole accused based on a complaint filed by a relative of the patient, Usha Joseph, though more names may be added as the investigation progresses.
An expert committee comprising specialists from Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam Medical Colleges is set to submit its report to the Director of Medical Education.
The surgeon, Dr Shahida, and Nursing Officer Dhanya have already been suspended following preliminary findings that pointed to a lapse during the procedure.
Further action will depend on the panel's final conclusions.
