Thiruvananthapuram: Inquiry report points to lapses by senior documents

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The preliminary report submitted by the additional chief secretary (health), who investigated the alleged delay in the organ transplant surgery, has said there were no senior doctors present in the hospital when the organ had reached the hospital.
Instead of senior doctors, junior doctors, including postgraduates, were asked to do all the preliminary tests and other procedures that must be done before the transplant surgery.
The main lapse that has been pointed out in the report was that there was no proper guidance given to the doctors present at the hospital at that time by their seniors on the protocols to be followed when the organ reaches the hospital.
There was no coordination between the nephrology and urology departments for the transplant procedure. Both the department heads were not present at the hospital, and they had not delegated the powers to senior surgeons for the transplant surgery, says the report.
Since the patient required a cardiological clearance due to his health condition, there was no presence of a cardiology specialist at the time of the surgery. The inquiry report has pointed out lapses that occurred in maintaining the protocols ahead of the transplant surgery and the delay that occurred due to the lack of coordination between the urology and nephrology departments.
Health minister Veena George had directly asked the ACS to probe into the incident and submit a report with immediate effect on Monday. Based on this report, the suspension of the two HoDs was decided. The minister was firm that the doctors should be made responsible for the lack of coordination.