THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has ordered an urgent, high-level investigation after relatives of a patient at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) in Thiruvananthapuram alleged finding maggots inside his surgical wound.
The alarming incident came to light after the patient was moved into a general ward following an extended post-operative recovery period spent in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The complaint was brought forward by the family of Rajendraprasad, a resident of Paripally, who had been admitted to the premiere healthcare institution following a severe road traffic accident.
He sustained critical orthopaedic injuries to his legs, which required complex corrective surgery to insert a stabilizing metal rod, alongside the application of an external fixator apparatus to keep the fractured limb immobilized.
His family members alleged that after he was shifted to the ward, they noticed maggots crawling on the injured leg and immediately notified the nursing staff on duty, who reportedly failed to take prompt action.