Kottayam: A complaint was lodged over the death of a patient who breathed his last while being shifted to Alappuzha Vandanam medical college from Thiruvalla taluk hospital. As per the complaint, the patient died inside the ambulance due to shortage of oxygen. The deceased was identified as Rajan (65).

The incident took place on Sunday night. The relatives of the deceased informed that Rajan was rushed to Tiruvalla taluk hospital after complaining of breathing issues around 12’o clock Sunday night. The doctors there referred him to Vandanam Medical College. He was taken to the Medical College in the health department’s ambulance with oxygen support.

Gireesh, son of the deceased man, alleged that the ambulance driver changed the oxygen cylinder before leaving for Medical College. 

“The oxygen supply ran out when we covered 3 kilometres from the taluk hospital. We immediately alerted the driver about the matter. But he didn’t stop the vehicle or take the patient to the nearest private hospital,” he alleged.

Meanwhile, the ambulance driver dismissed the allegations. He stated that the relatives were raising baseless allegations against him.

He claimed that he took the patient to the medical college by 1.30 am and the doctors pronounced the patient dead during the check-up after 30 minutes.