The Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) has registered its strong protest over the manner in which the government allowed a mob to take charge of affairs and create an environment of fear and violence at the Nedumangad taluk hospital on Wednesday, following the death of a newborn.
While the death of a newborn is a painful affair, attacking doctors and raising a wild allegation of medical negligence even before the truth is ascertained through an impartial enquiry were not acceptable.
The KGMOA also took strong exception to the manner in which the government hastily suspended the doctor even before the expert committee engaged by the government to look into the newborn’s death had begun inquiry. The KGMOA observed that yielding to mob pressure and hastily initiating punitive action—without scientifically analysing the facts or giving the accused doctor an opportunity to explain her position—is a blatant violation of natural justice.
‘Best care given’
It said that the doctors at the Nedumangad hospital had provided the best possible care, within the severe constraints in the institution. With neonatal mortality occurring in up to four per 1,000 births, it is totally unacceptable that medical complications are treated like medical negligence and doctors suspended even before the fact-finding committee had begun its work. The government’s unfairness meted out to doctors, while fully capitulating to the demands of a mob, will only demoralise the medical fraternity.
‘Baseless charge’
The KGMOA also alleged that the bribery allegation against the doctors was totally baseless. The bribery charge had not been raised by the family even once during the discussion they had with the Health authorities on Tuesday.
Suspending a doctor solely on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations aired in the media is an affront to the rule of law and the KGMOA will challenge this legally, it said. The KGMOA demanded strict legal measures under the Hospital Protection Act and other relevant provisions against those who unleashed violence and created chaos at the Nedumangad taluk hospital.
The KGMOA pointed out that in a similar incident in Palakkad district, wherein two doctors were suspended, the government is yet to make the expert committee’s report public. It demanded that the government make public the inquiry reports in both the Nedumangad and Palakkad cases.
The KGMOA observed a protest day on Thursday at Nedumangad hospital, by suspending all services except emergency care. The government doctors will launch an indefinite non-cooperation strike on Friday, abstaining from all duties other than patient care.
Published – February 19, 2026 09:49 pm IST
