Family Alleges DMO Ignored Health Inspector's Condition Leading to Death
A family is alleging the District Medical Officer ignored a health inspector's condition after she collapsed and died. The inspector had recently returned to duty after a leg injury and was under stress due to a transfer order.
Key takeaways
- A health inspector died after collapsing at a panchayat meeting shortly after receiving a transfer order.
- The inspector's family alleges the District Medical Officer ignored her health condition.
- Preliminary findings indicate stroke as the cause of death, with mental stress as a potential contributor.
- The family plans to file a complaint seeking an inquiry into the circumstances and action against responsible parties.
The family of a 51-year-old health inspector who died after collapsing at a panchayat meeting is preparing to file a complaint against the Kannur District Medical Officer (DMO). They allege the DMO disregarded her deteriorating health condition, which had been brought to the authorities' attention.
Deepa Lekha, a health inspector at the Chokli Family Health Centre and resident of Vadakara, reportedly collapsed during a standing committee meeting. She was initially taken to a clinic in Chokli and later to a private hospital in Kannur, where she died. Preliminary postmortem findings suggest a stroke was the cause of death, with mental stress noted as a possible contributing factor.
According to her family, Lekha had sustained a leg injury from a scooter accident months prior, requiring nearly three months of treatment and affecting her mobility. She had only recently returned to work following a period of leave. Colleagues and relatives stated that her health concerns were communicated to the DMO.
Lekha was placed on a draft transfer list following a change in government, initially designated for transfer to the Mattannur health centre. Her requests to remain at Chokli due to her health issues were reportedly denied, and she was instead transferred to Pinarayi. Her colleagues reported that the transfer order caused her significant mental distress, which they believe contributed to her death.
The family, along with an NGO union, plans to submit a formal complaint to the Health Minister. They are seeking an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Lekha's death and appropriate action against those deemed responsible.
Story by Project Chintan
