Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 6: A man from Kollam district died at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital allegedly due to a delay in performing an emergency angioplasty, sparking outrage after an emotional voice message he sent before his death surfaced online.
The deceased, identified as Venu, an autorickshaw driver from Panmana in Kollam, had been admitted to the hospital last week following severe chest pain. His family claimed that despite doctors recommending an urgent angioplasty, the procedure was not carried out even after six days of hospitalisation.
In a voice message recorded shortly before his death, Venu alleged negligence and corruption at the hospital. He accused officials of ignoring patients’ pleas and implied that bribes might be demanded for timely treatment.
“No one here even looks at you with concern — not even the way one would look at a dog,” Venu said in the message. “I came here on Friday for an emergency angiogram, but five days have passed and no one has checked on me. When I asked a doctor when the surgery would be done, they said they had no idea. Maybe they’re waiting for bribes. Medical colleges should be a refuge for the poor, but this has become a cursed paradise for patients.”
Venu’s message ended with a chilling request to his friend: if anything happened to him, the friend should make his suffering known to the public.
According to his family, Venu first sought treatment at the Chavara Primary Health Centre for chest pain and was referred to the Kollam District Hospital, where doctors recommended an emergency angiogram. He was then moved to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, where he died on Wednesday night, just hours after sending the audio message.
Hospital authorities, however, have denied any lapses. They said Venu was given all possible medical care and that by the time he was admitted, the critical window for performing angioplasty had already passed. Officials added that his condition deteriorated suddenly despite ongoing treatment.
The incident has triggered public outrage and demands for accountability. With the victim’s family alleging gross negligence, the Kerala state government is expected to order a formal probe to determine whether delays or systemic failures contributed to Venu’s death.