Thiruvananthapuram: State human rights commission (SHRC) chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas has directed that the committee proposed by the govt to probe the malfunction of expensive surgical equipment at medical college hospital (MCH) should submit a report within two months.
The commission has also requested the director of medical education to submit an additional report detailing the average number of surgeries conducted in the month before the 30-degree telescope and light source cable of the urology department malfunctioned and the number of surgeries conducted after the issue was resolved. The report should also include information on how many surgeries are currently pending and whether any action was taken against senior faculty members who violated protocols.
The commission has already received a report from the director of medical education, which states that an inquiry was conducted by a committee comprising special officer of the medical education department, joint director of nursing department, and the head of the surgical gastroenterology department.
According to the report, the equipment purchased using hospital development society funds in 2022-23 got damaged as it was managed carelessly. The department head had not provided guidelines on handling surgical equipment to faculty and nursing assistants. There were also complaints of inappropriate behaviour by senior urology faculty in the operation theatre, the report further said.
This committee informed the govt that another investigation is needed to confirm whether the damage to the equipment was accidental or intentional. The report also mentions that the failure of senior faculty to adhere to protocols and the unit chief’s absence before the inquiry commission are considered serious lapses.
