A 23-year-old man from Somangalam died about three hours after being admitted to Tambaram District Government Hospital for fever, prompting his family to file a complaint alleging medical negligence with the Somangalam police. Hospital authorities have said that the cause of death can be established only after an autopsy.
The deceased, identified as Parthasarathy, lived on Pillaiyar Koil Street in Melathur, Somangalam, and worked as an office assistant at a private college in the locality. Police said he had been suffering from high fever for several days and had initially received treatment at a private hospital.
According to the report, a blood test at the private hospital indicated signs of dengue fever. Parthasarathy was admitted to Tambaram District Government Hospital at around 6 pm. He was declared dead at approximately 8.30 pm, leaving his family and relatives seeking an explanation for the rapid deterioration in his condition.
His brother and other relatives subsequently approached the Somangalam police station and sought appropriate action. The complaint has raised questions about the treatment provided after his admission, although the police report supplied by the source does not indicate that any finding of negligence has been established.
The hospital has disputed the family’s interpretation of the medical situation. Its authorities said Parthasarathy had been diagnosed with an ordinary fever at the government hospital. They also said his platelet count had reportedly been 83,000 at the private hospital, while tests conducted after his admission to the government hospital showed a count of 1.3 lakh. On that basis, he was treated for an ordinary fever, according to the hospital’s account.
The hospital further said that Parthasarathy suddenly lost consciousness while undergoing treatment and was placed on ventilator support. He died despite efforts to revive him. The conflicting accounts over his symptoms, test results and treatment have made the post-mortem examination central to determining the medical cause of death.
Hospital authorities have initiated arrangements for the autopsy. The report supplied by DT Next does not provide details of any completed police investigation, disciplinary action or findings by an independent medical authority. The autopsy and any subsequent police inquiry are expected to clarify whether the death resulted from an underlying illness, a rapid medical deterioration or any failure in treatment.
