The family of a man from Bengaluru is accusing a government medical college in Kerala of gross negligence after he went missing from the hospital premises and was later found dead. The incident has raised serious questions about patient safety and supervision protocols in medical facilities.
Disappearance and Allegations of Hospital Negligence
Suraj Lama, a 59-year-old native of Bengaluru, was a patient at the Kalamassery Government Medical College Hospital in Kochi. According to his son, Santon Lama, the hospital allowed his father to leave the premises without any supervision. This was despite the hospital authorities being aware that Suraj Lama had learning disabilities that affected his cognitive abilities.
Santon Lama has publicly criticized the hospital's handling of his father's case. He revealed that initially, the hospital recorded his father as an "unknown" patient. It was only after media reports highlighted the disappearance that the records were updated with Suraj Lama's correct name. "If the medical [staff] did not let my father go, we wouldn't be here," Santon stated emotionally. He further emphasized, "Those people told me that he could say his name; he doesn't know his name. I have medical proof of that."
Discovery of Remains and DNA Testing
The search for the missing man ended tragically on Sunday. Severely decomposed remains, suspected to be of Suraj Lama, were discovered in a forested area within Kalamassery. Upon being informed, Santon Lama and his cousin traveled from Bengaluru to Kochi on Monday to attempt identification.
However, due to the advanced state of decomposition, a visual confirmation was impossible. The police have now initiated a DNA test to establish the identity conclusively. Blood samples were collected from Santon Lama for comparison with the recovered remains. The police are awaiting the forensic report to confirm if the body is indeed that of the missing Bengaluru man.
Family's Anguish and Demand for Accountability
The incident has left the family devastated and demanding answers. The core of their allegation is that the hospital failed in its duty of care. Letting a vulnerable patient with known cognitive issues leave unattended is being viewed as a fundamental failure of protocol.
The family's ordeal underscores a larger issue concerning the safety of patients, especially those with disabilities or mental health conditions, in busy government hospitals. The case has sparked a debate on whether enough measures are in place to prevent such tragedies. The hospital authorities are expected to respond to these serious allegations as the investigation progresses.
