A 60-year-old passed away at TMH Hospital in Kottakadavu, Kozhikode district, on September 23, less than an hour after being admitted with chest pain and breathlessness. His death has sparked allegations of gross medical negligence, with the family accusing a fraudulent doctor of mishandling the case. The deceased has been identified as Vinod Kumar.
Vinod Kumar's son, Ashwin Pachaatt Vinod, a doctor by profession, expressed deep anguish, revealing that the Resident Medical Officer (RMO) in charge of his father’s treatment, identified as Abu Abraham Luke, did not hold a valid MBBS degree. Ashwin claimed that his father’s life was entrusted to an individual who hadn’t even cleared his second-year MBBS exams, despite enrolling in 2011.
Dr. Ashwin Pachaatt Vinod said, "23/09/2024 — With a heart full of pain and disbelief, I must share that my father lost his life due to gross medical negligence of TMH Hospital (Kottakadavu) and a fraud doctor who didn’t even have an official MBBS degree. Half an hour later, my brother called me, desperate for answers. No one at the hospital was communicating with them. He handed the phone to the Casualty RMO, "Dr." A, who told me my father was brought in late and that there was little he could do."
According to Dr. Ashwin, Luke falsely posed as a qualified doctor and had been working illegally in emergency departments of various hospitals for years. He explained that upon discovering the truth, the family was devastated, realising that his father's death could have been avoided if proper care had been provided by a qualified professional.
The Feroke police have since taken Abu Abraham Luke into custody as part of their investigation into Vinod Kumar's death.