SHRC orders high-level probe into medical college ICU fire

The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Wednesday called for a high-level probe into the recent fire incident at the surgical ICU unit in the government medical college hospital here and alleged death of five patients who were shifted from the unit following the blaze.

Registering a case on its own, based on media reports, State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) Chairperson Alexander Thomas directed the Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department to conduct a detailed and transparent inquiry into the incident.

The SHRC asked that all aspects of the episode, including the circumstances leading to the fire and the steps taken to evacuate patients from the ICU, must be thoroughly examined, a Commission’s statement said here.

It also sought clarity on the exact cause of death of the five patients and directed that post-mortem findings and expert forensic opinions be compiled and submitted as part of the report.

The SHRC said the inquiry should include recording statements from doctors, hospital staff, attenders and relatives of the deceased. Relevant hospital records, post-mortem certificates and forensic reports have also been sought, it said.

The Commission further asked authorities to verify whether complaints have been lodged by the relatives of the deceased and, if so, whether FIRs have been registered.

Additionally, the Director of Medical Education has been instructed to submit a separate report on the matter.

The SHRC has also directed representatives of the State government and the Directorate of Medical Education to appear in person during a sitting scheduled to be held at its headquarters on May 8, the statement added.

The intervention of the human rights panel came days after relatives of five deceased patients alleged that their deaths were linked to the fire incident on March 17.

The Congress, last week, had demanded an immediate investigation into the allegation related to the deaths of the patients, and termed the development as “shocking”.