Date:20/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/20/stories/2007052006170300.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

Alappuzha MCH superintendent quits

Staff Reporter

Row over death of two youngsters

ALAPPUZHA: Alappuzha Medical College Hospital (MCH) Superintendent Mohan P. Sam has resigned in the wake of the ongoing controversy over the death of two youngsters in the hospital.

Dr. Sam, a noted urologist, told The Hindu here on Saturday that he had submitted his resignation to the Medical College Principal K.N. Laila on Friday.

This was following an altercation between hospital staff and the public at the Medical College Hospital (MCH) on Wednesday night, when two youngsters, who suffered fatal injuries in a road accident, were brought to the hospital. While one of them was allegedly denied timely treatment, the body of another, who died on the spot, was kept outside the hospital morgue for a long time.

An irate crowd threw stones at Dr. Sam's residence because he was not at the hospital during the altercation. However, Dr. Sam had told Cooperation Minister G. Sudhakaran, who visited the hospital on Thursday, that he had not gone to the hospital because the police had asked him "not to" since "there was a crowd mobilising at the hospital."

"There are other reasons too. The staff shortage at the hospital is such that if two patients are brought to the casualty at the same time, only one can be attended to. Doctors have to attend to casualty and ward duties simultaneously, putting immense pressure on them. This has been a long-standing problem. I have brought this to the notice of Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy who visited the hospital today [Saturday]," Dr. Sam said.

Meanwhile, a release from the Public Relations Department said that Dr. Sam was "removed from his post" and that Prof. T.A. Vasu was appointed superintendent in his place.