Synopsis
On March 15, a serious incident occurred at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College where a waste collector mistakenly discarded 17 patient specimens, thinking they were plastic waste. This has sparked a police investigation and raised concerns about medical specimen handling.Key Takeaways
- Incident occurred on March 15 at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College.
- 17 patient specimens were mistakenly removed.
- Specimens were left unattended on a staircase.
- Investigation by police initiated.
- Concerns raised about handling of medical specimens.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 15 (NationPress) In a significant oversight at the state-operated Thiruvananthapuram Medical College and Hospital, a waste collector inadvertently disposed of 17 patient specimens, mistakenly identifying them as plastic waste.
This incident took place around noon on Saturday and has led to a police investigation.
As per reports, the specimens were left unattended on a staircase in the open yard while the team tasked with transporting them to the Pathology Department was delivering other samples to different areas.
During this period, a waste collector, who regularly collects waste throughout the hospital grounds, misidentified the four boxes containing the specimens as ordinary medical waste. Upon realizing that the contents were body parts preserved in formalin, he discarded the boxes near the Pathology laboratory without informing anyone.
The mistake was uncovered when the transport team, returning from another area, noticed that the 17 specimens intended for pathology were missing. A further search led to the recovery of the boxes, which were subsequently returned to the Pathology Department.
Dr. Laila Raji, head of the Pathology Department, clarified that her team is not responsible for the incident, asserting that their duties commence only after specimens are officially received.
"A team from the hospital delivers samples to various laboratories each day. On Saturday, the samples were delivered as usual. However, the 17 specimens were left unattended while other samples were being distributed elsewhere," Raji detailed.
After the discovery, the hospital administration was informed, and both the police and college authorities were alerted. "The specimens remain intact and will proceed for pathological examination," Raji confirmed.
The police have detained the waste collector for questioning. He reportedly stated to investigators that he had no malicious intent and believed the boxes contained regular waste.
This incident has raised significant concerns regarding the management of medical specimens at one of the most esteemed healthcare institutions in Kerala.
Observers are keenly monitoring whether accountability will be determined and if actions will be taken against those accountable for this oversight.
