'Doctors on leave, come back later': Kochi youth dies unattended at Medical College

Michael complained of severe pain in the stomach when he was brought in around 7 am He remained in the observation room with no one attending to him till 12 noon At 11:15 pm, the doctors pronounced Michael dead

Michael, 25, complained of severe pain in the stomach when he was brought from Edathala to the Medical College at Kalamassery around 7 am on Saturday, according to a Manorama report. But he remained in the observation room with no one attending to him till 12 noon.

Later, a doctor showed up and diagnosed Michael with appendicitis and prescribed surgery. However, the administration staff and nurses told his relatives that the surgeon was out of station and the operation would be expensive if they look for a doctor outside the hospital's payroll.

The relatives where then told that if they wait for four days Michael can be treated free of cost.

Michael suffered seizures three times between 8 pm and 9:30 pm but the hospital staff did not seem bothered by it. Later, the patient was lifted through the stairs to the ICU as the lift operator was not around.

At 11:15 pm, the doctors pronounced Michael dead. 

Michael was a sound engineering student and lived with his grandmother at Edathala.

The Ernakulam district collector sent two doctors - Dr Omana Menon and Dr Rajesh - on forced leave after Michael's relatives held them responsible for the youth's death. Health minister KK Shylaja has ordered the director of medical education to look into the incident.