14-year-old Kerala boy, who fractured elbow, now battles for life after anesthesia error

Little did Ayyappan and Dhanalakshmi realise when they wheeled their 14-year-old son into a private hospital in Kollam for a fractured elbow that he would be battling for his life a day later.

Having sustained a fracture to his left elbow after falling from a bicycle, Abhi was taken to Dr Nairs Hospital on April 26. But as his injury was termed a ‘severe fracture’, doctors recommended immediate surgery.   

At around 9am on April 27, Abhi was wheeled into the operation theatre. But three hours into the surgery, his family were given no updates by doctors or hospital staff.  

"Till noon they did not tell us anything. We did not even know that that operation had not taken place,” Abhi’s father Ayyappan told The News Minute. Fearing the worst, the family demanded answers.

“When the clock struck 2.30 pm, they still hadn’t informed us about what was happening inside. It was then we came to know that he was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit and was in a critical condition," says the distraught father.

To their horror, the family found Abhi unconscious and put on ventilator.

"They told us something went wrong while giving him anaesthesia. They told us not to worry and promised us that he would be okay soon. But he remains unconscious," says Ayyappan. He adds that the doctors had told them that Abhi had some breathing troubles while being administered anaesthesia.  

A daily wage labourer, Abhi’s father says he has no idea how he will now foot his son’s treatment. Five days ago, Abhi was shifted to a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, where his condition remains highly critical.  

Following a complaint filed by his relatives, the Kollam police filed an FIR against Nairs Hospital under IPC section 336 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others).  

An officer from Kollam East Sub Inspector Roopesh told TNM that an FIR has been registered and an inquiry is on. He, however, added that no arrests can be made until more evidence is available.

While authorities at Nairs Hospital declined to speak on Abhi’s case, a senior staff admitted that in some cases anaesthesia has failed. However, she added that it cannot be considered medical negligence.  “It happens rarely to a few patients, it is not the fault of doctor,” she said.