A 62-year-old patient from Kollam died after allegedly falling from a hospital bed while undergoing treatment for jaundice at the Government Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. The deceased has been identified as Wilfred, a resident of Perayam.
Incident Details
According to hospital sources, the incident occurred in Ward No. 5, one of the busiest wards in the state's premier tertiary care institution. Wilfred, who had been admitted for treatment of age-related health complications, reportedly fell from his bed under circumstances that are yet to be fully established. He sustained serious injuries and was immediately attended to by medical personnel, but despite efforts to save him, he later died.
Police Investigation
The Medical College police have registered a case based on a complaint lodged by his son Lenin and have commenced an investigation. Police said statements will be collected from hospital staff, fellow patients, bystanders, and relatives to ascertain the exact sequence of events. Investigators are also expected to examine whether safety measures such as bed rails and regular patient monitoring were in place at the time of the incident.
Postmortem Examination
The body has been shifted to the mortuary for postmortem examination. The findings are expected to help determine whether the injuries sustained in the fall directly resulted in the death.
Concerns Over Patient Safety
Hospital authorities have yet to issue a detailed statement on the matter. The incident has raised concerns over patient safety in government hospitals, particularly in overcrowded wards that cater to a large number of patients from southern Kerala. Further action will be taken based on the police investigation and postmortem report.
