Days after the death of 46-year-old Murugan, a migrant labourer from Tamil Nadu who passed away after he was denied treatment at multiple hospitals in the state, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has tendered his apology to the deceased's family.
Speaking in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, CM Pinarayi said that Murugan's death due to refusal of treatment on time has brought shame to the state.
"On behalf of my state, I am ready to apologise to Murugan's family for what happened," Pinarayi said.
He also announced in the Assembly that the Kerala state government was willing to bring in legislation or amendments to existing laws to make sure that patients are not refused treatment.
Later, taking to social media, Pinarayi Vijayan reiterated that he extends his support to Murugan's family and assured that the state government will take necessary measures so as to prevent similar incidents from happening.
On Twitter, CM Pinarayi conveyed the same in a series of tweets in English and Tamil.
மருத்துவமனைகள் அவசர சிகிச்சையளிக்காததால் உயிரிழந்த முருகன் உறவினர்களிடம் கேரள மக்களின் சார்பாக முதல்வர் பினராயி விஜயன் மன்னிப்புக் கோரினார்
— CMO Kerala (@CMOKerala) August 10, 2017
விபத்துக்களில் பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்களுக்கு மருத்துவமனைகளில் உடனடியாக சிகிச்சையளிக்க தேவைப்பட்டால் புதிய சட்டம் இயற்றப்படும் - பினராயி விஜயன்.
— CMO Kerala (@CMOKerala) August 10, 2017
Murugan, a native of Tirunelveli, died early on Monday morning. Murugan had been grievously injured in a bike accident, following which, multiple hospitals in Thiruvananthapuram and neighbouring Kollam districts refused him treatment. The hospitals turned the ambulance away, either citing lack of advanced facilities or because there was nobody with the patient.
Murugan's death shocked the state, following which the CM ordered a probe. Five hospitals in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam have been booked for refusing treatment to the patient.