CMC deaths: Three officials suspended

Following the death of three persons at the Cooperative Medical College here, the hospital management on Friday suspended hospital superintendent K G R Mallan, oxygen plant operator M R Rajesh and nurse-in-charge Akkamma.


The negligence on the part of the authorities came to light when the members of the Cooperative Academy of Professional Education - Nurses Association wrote to the Chief Minister.


The members stated that the death of three persons- Jayachandran, Varghese and Pappu- which occurred on July 15 and July 17 were owing to the mistake on the part of the hospital officials.


Allegedly, the patients  died after the officials failed to replace the oxygen cylinders even after they became  empty. The hospital authorities at first denied the allegation and stated that the death was a natural one. 


Protest march and dharna were staged separately by the activists of the Youth Congress and the DYFI which led to the hospital management suspending the officials.



The management has also constituted a three member committee for conducting an inquiry into the incident. The committee will comprise Dr Jilse George, Dr Ajitha Kumari and Dr Kanakambaram.


The committee will submit its report to the Cooperative Academy of Professional Education within a week’s time.


The protest led by Youth Congress activists began around 9.30 am on Friday and the DYFI also joined them. About 50 protestors thronged to the administrative block of the hospital and into the room of the hospital’s medical adviser.


As the situation turned volatile, the police intervened. The Youth Congress and DYFI members conducted meetings with the administrative adviser who, after discussing the matter with the managing director of the hospital, decided to suspend the officials against whom the allegations were raised.


When the hospital authorities asked for an explanation from oxygen plant operator M R Rajesh, as part of the preliminary investigation, Rajesh told them that he was not informed by the nurses that the oxygen cylinders were empty.


However, the nurses raised the allegation against Rajesh that he had not turned up for replacing the cylinders even though he had been informed.


An official in the hospital also suspects that the letter which was sent to the Chief Minister was an outcome of a clash between the unions.


Some nurses of the hospital had formed a new union, which was not recognised by the CITU and the INTUC. Hence the letter was sent to avenge the said unions, he said.