A 23-year-old man from Somangalam died around three hours after being admitted to Tambaram District Government Hospital for fever on Tuesday evening, prompting his family to file a complaint alleging medical negligence. Police and hospital authorities have given different accounts about his illness and platelet count, while an autopsy is expected to establish the cause of death.
The deceased, Parthasarathy, lived on Pillaiyar Koil Street in Melathur, Somangalam, and worked as an office assistant at a private college in the area. According to police, he had been suffering from high fever for several days and had initially been receiving treatment at a private hospital.
A blood test at the private facility indicated signs of dengue fever, following which Parthasarathy was admitted to Tambaram District Government Hospital at around 6 pm on Tuesday. He was declared dead at approximately 8.30 pm, according to the report.
His brother and other relatives subsequently approached Somangalam police station and sought action, alleging that medical negligence may have contributed to the death. The police complaint records the family’s demand for an investigation; it does not establish that negligence occurred.
Hospital authorities said Parthasarathy had been diagnosed with an ordinary fever at the government hospital and that the exact cause of death could be determined only after an autopsy. The hospital also said his platelet count had reportedly been 83,000 at the private hospital.
However, tests conducted after his admission to Tambaram District Government Hospital reportedly showed a platelet count of 1.3 lakh. Based on that result, hospital authorities said he was treated for ordinary fever rather than dengue. The difference between the two reported test results is now part of the circumstances surrounding the case, although the available account does not establish why the readings differed.
During treatment, Parthasarathy suddenly lost consciousness and was placed on ventilator support. Hospital staff attempted to resuscitate him, but he died, according to the report. The episode has raised immediate concerns for his family about the assessment and treatment provided after his admission.
The incident also highlights the difficulty of determining a patient’s condition when symptoms, test results and the progression of illness do not align. Fever cases can require rapid clinical assessment, but the available information does not establish whether the death was caused by dengue, another medical condition or a treatment-related lapse.
Tambaram District Government Hospital has initiated arrangements for an autopsy. The post-mortem findings and the police inquiry are expected to clarify the medical cause of death and examine the family’s allegation of negligence.
