Kerala shocker: SAT hospital under scanner after woman dies post childbirth; family alleges negligence, political workers protest

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 26-year-old woman died following childbirth, sparking allegations of medical negligence at Sree Avittom Thirunal (SAT) Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.

Health minister Veena George has ordered a formal probe after the family of the deceased lodged a complaint, alleging lapses in postnatal care.The deceased, Shivapriya, wife of Manu of Karikkakom, delivered a baby boy at SAT Hospital on Oct 22 and was discharged three days later. However, she developed a high fever and diarrhoea on Oct 26 and was readmitted. As her condition worsened, she was shifted to govt medical college hospital, where tests reportedly confirmed a severe Acinetobacter infection affecting her lungs and bloodstream.

Despite intensive care and ventilator support at SAT Hospital, she died around noon on Sunday.Her relatives alleged the infection was hospital-acquired during her initial stay at SAT. "The doctors told us it was Acinetobacter. This infection started after she was discharged. It could only have come from the hospital," her brother Sivaprasad said. The family also claimed that other patients in the same ward showed similar symptoms.

However, SAT Hospital officials denied the charges, stating there was no evidence that the infection was contracted within their facility and that the patient was symptom-free at the time of discharge.The officials stated that all possible medical care was provided to Shivapriya during her stay and that both she and her newborn showed no health complications at any point during the treatment period. When she was readmitted, medical tests revealed that she was suffering from septic shock.Hospital authorities noted that between 20 to 30 deliveries take place at SAT daily and on the day of Shivapriya's delivery, 17 deliveries were recorded—none of which showed any health issues.Following the family's protest outside the hospital, BJP workers led by former Union minister V Muraleedharan staged a sit-in, demanding action against those responsible. "She was discharged without proper observation and denied timely care after readmission.

Govt must act against the negligent officials," Muraleedharan told reporters after meeting the hospital superintendent.George directed the director of medical education to form a special inquiry team to review ward records, infection-control logs and sterilisation procedures, and to submit a report within two days.Hospital authorities further claimed that the hospital consistently scored 98% in quality standards as per central govt guidelines and the microbiology department's sterility check conducted on Oct 18 had certified the labour rooms and operation theatres as sterile.The superintendent added that SAT frequently receives high-risk referrals from other private hospitals and maintains one of the lowest maternal and infant mortality rates in the state. The doctors, he said, make every possible effort to treat even critical cases and to keep mortality rates to a minimum.George directed the director of medical education to form a special inquiry team to review ward records, infection-control logs and sterilisation procedures, and to submit a report within two days.