KIMS student condition critical; BBMP blames traffic for delay in treatment

On April 4, a 21-year-old medical student of KIMS fell from the second floor of a Jayanagar building while volunteering in BBMP’s pulse polio immunisation campaign. Sachin Menon received serious injury due to the fall and is battling for his life in Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road. 

According to reports, Sachin was on the second floor of the building but he got startled by a barking pet dog that was not on the leash and in an attempt to escape, moved back and that's when the third-year undergraduate student of Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, fell. The student who witnessed the incident, told the media that Sachin had tried to hold on to the wall but his hands slipped. The fall caused severe injury to his left brain, fracturing his skull and causing blood clots, a leading daily reported.

The incident happened at around 10:30 am and he was brought to the Apollo Hospitals between 12:30 pm and 1 pm. After 20 minutes of his arrival the doctors operated on him, the New Indian Express quoted neurosurgeon at Apollo Hospitals, Dr Arun L Naik, as saying. The doctor initially reportedly stated that the chance of his survival is low and that the next 48 hours would be critical for the young boy.

On April 6, Sachin went through his second brain surgery. His condition is still critical but stable, another report by the same daily quoted Dr Naik. He is on ventilation and other life support system; his breathing is weak and he can move his limbs a bit. 

When Sachin, son of a doctor couple in Thrissur, was brought to Apollo Hospitals the neurosurgeon Dr Naik stated he was brought well after the crucial 60 minutes since the incident. Because of which the chance of his survival is very low. 

The delay being talked about is the time that was spent in taking Sachin to Bangalore Hospital where a CT scan and MRI was conducted and then officials from the college and others present decided to shift him Apollo Hospitals.This led to the loss of crucial time increasing the risk for his survival.

The BBMP who organised this drive has been accused of being negligent in managing this emergency situation involving the medical student. BBMP reproductive and child health officer Kalavati AL meanwhile said that they cannot say that Sachin did not get treatment in the first 60 minutes as he was taken to the nearest hospital. Also, the officer tried to shift the blame on the traffic situation of the city; the New Indian Express quoted the official as saying. However, the civic body has agreed to pay for the surgeries conducted on the student. 

If traffic is to blame for the delay then it is highly deplorable because the city and traffic police should have been alerted to the situation and a corridor should have been cleared so that the young medico could have received urgent medical care. As it is being repeatedly emphasised, Sachin could have had better chances of survival had he been brought to hospital within 30 minutes. The indecision at the initial hour and shifting Sachin also played a crucial role in this situation. 

• Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences
• KIMS
• KIMS bangalore
• BBMP
• Polio drive