Cancer patient dies during radiation in Kerala medical college

Alappuzha (Kerala): A 59-year-old cancer patient Monday died after he allegedly fell down from the radiation table following "some discomfort" while undergoing treatment at the government medical college hospital here.

The deceased had undergone a 'debulking surgery' for advanced brain tumour seven days ago and was undergoing radiation therapy for the last five days, a senior official said.

"Today was the sixth day of his radiation therapy. The mishap happened when the patient was placed on the radiation table. During treatment, he developed some discomfort and he accidentally slipped from the cot," Santosh Raghavan, medical college hospital superintendent, told PTI.

The technicians, viewing the procedure, saw him fall and immediately rushed to help him, he said, adding, the exact cause of the death can be ascertained only after autopsy.

The activists of CPI(M)'s youth wing Democratic Youth Federation of India staged demonstrations before the hospital alleging negligence of hospital staff for the mishap.