Elderly patient dies after fall from cot at Thiruvananthapuram MCH

The death of an 87-year-old patient at Government Medical College (MCH), Thiruvananthapuram, has sparked allegations of medical negligence and renewed debate over patient safety in public hospitals. Sukumara Pillai of Chadayamangalam, who had suffered a stroke, was referred from Kollam Government Medical College and admitted to ward 28 on August 26. He was allowed two companions — his son and sister — as caregivers.

On August 29, Pillai fell from his cot, sustaining injuries to his forehead and face, which were treated by doctors. He died on Monday. His family subsequently alleged that he did not receive adequate care following the fall and that negligence contributed to his death.

MCH authorities have denied any lapse in care. Superintendent C.G. Jayachandran said the patient was not left unattended and had two caregivers present. "He was not delirious nor was he a psychiatric patient," he said. Authorities also claimed the family raised the negligence allegation after the treating doctor refused to release the body without a postmortem.

The incident echoes a similar case in June, when a 62-year-old patient with altered sensorium died after falling from a hospital cot. That episode had prompted calls for cots with protective side rails, particularly in large public hospitals facing acute nursing staff shortages.

MCH authorities acknowledged that the hospital lacks an adequate number of such cots. Only five or six per ward are available, and these are reserved for patients without caregivers, those on psychiatric medication, head injury cases, or delirious patients. "We just do not have enough cots with side rails to provide to all elderly patients," authorities said.

The body was released in the evening after postmortem, the report of which is awaited.