Vision loss following treatment: family raises bribery charge

Fresh bribery allegations have emerged in the incident in which Sanoop, a 36-year-old tile worker from Thrikkur, lost his eyesight after an alleged treatment error at the Government Medical College Hospital, Thrissur, in 2023.

His family now claims that they were forced to pay a doctor at another government hospital to secure treatment and signatures required for free medicines.

According to his mother Valsala, the family approached Thrissur General Hospital after his condition worsened, but the doctor allegedly did not examine Sanoop for three days. She said patients and caregivers told them the doctor would not attend without payment. Desperate, she visited the doctor’s private clinic in Thrissur and paid ₹1,500, after which he examined Sanoop the next day.

Sanoop had initially sought treatment for knee pain in July 2023 at the medical college hospital. The family alleges that an injection led to a severe infection that spread across his body and ultimately caused total vision loss.

The case has sparked political attention, with Congress leader Anil Akkara visiting the family at their Thrikkur home and assuring full support. As an immediate measure, he announced that AI-enabled smart glasses, costing around ₹40,000 and requiring specialised training, would be provided to help Sanoop navigate by detecting objects in real time.

Meanwhile, Congress workers staged a sit-in before the medical college superintendent’s office demanding strict action against the doctors responsible for the incident and dismissal of the doctor accused of accepting bribes. The party has also sought immediate compensation and sustained financial assistance for Sanoop’s treatment and livelihood.

In addition, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) secretary and Hospital Development Committee member Rajendran Arangath has filed a complaint before the Kerala State Human Rights Commission seeking urgent compensation and action against those allegedly responsible for the medical negligence.