Patient Trapped in Medical College Hospital Lift

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has directed the state government to pay Rs 5 lakh as compensation to a patient trapped in an elevator at Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital.

Commission chairman Justice Alexander Thomas ordered that compensation be paid to Raveendran Nair of Pongumoodu within two months. In its decision, the commission said, “There was a serious dereliction of duty and serious negligence on the part of the relevant authorities, and the patient’s life could have been lost.”

The commission also directed that a compliance report be submitted after compensation is paid. Justice Thomas also ordered the medical college superintendent to provide all necessary treatment to Raveendran Nair free of charge for the physical and mental trauma caused by the incident. If necessary, clinical psychologist services should also be used.

Raveendran Nair, who went to Trivandrum Medical College Hospital for a check-up on July 15, 2024, was stuck in the elevator for 48 hours.

Raveendran, the elevator operator who came to duty the next morning, found Nair lying exhausted.

Sharing his horrific ordeal, 59-year-old Raveendran Nair, a temporary employee of the legislative assembly, said he went to the Orthopedic department for a check-up. He took the elevator to reach the first floor, but the elevator went down and the doors remained closed. “As the elevator shook violently, my phone slipped from my hand and fell to the ground due to the impact. I continued to press the alarm button in a panic, but no one came. The emergency phone inside the elevator also went unanswered,” he recalled.

Finishing the day, the elevator operator locked the door without checking inside.