Kin’s complaint: probe ordered into deaths in MCH

Relatives allege that they were not informed of two patients’ deaths in Alappuzha MCH

In the wake of reports that relatives were not intimated of the deaths of two patients at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), Alappuzha, Health Minister Veena George on Sunday directed the Director of Medical Education to conduct a probe and submit a report immediately. Ms. George said stringent action would be taken against the culprits. A 58-year-old man from Kollam was admitted to the hospital on July 23 with chest pain. He later tested positive for COVID-19 and was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on August 9. He died on August 12. Family members said his wife was at the hospital when he died, but she was not informed of the death. The family’s attempts to reach the medical staff at the ICU on phone went futile. With no information for two days, his daughter and a relative came to the hospital on August 14. She later identified her father’s body at the hospital morgue.