A 38-year-old woman was wrongly administered chemotherapy treatment for non-malignant lump on her breast at the hospital based on biopsy report from a private lab. A report has been filed by the Kottayam Medical College principal to pardon doctors in this incident.

On Monday, Dr Jose Joseph submitted a report to the office of Health Minister K K Shailaja. The report stated there were no lapses on the part of doctors at the Oncology Department as the pathological report showed malignancy on victim’s breast. The doctors initiated the chemotherapy on the account of the fact that the disease had entered into third stage. Shailaja told Express she has not seen the report as she is in Ernakulam and will look into the report once she gets back to office on Tuesday.

On Monday, State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) chairman Justice Antony Dominic have booked a case related with the incident and ordered the Director of Medical Education (DME) to submit a report within three weeks after conducting an inquiry. He has also asked for immediate clarification from the DME on this issue. The commission has taken action on the basis of a complaint by P K Raju, a human rights activist.

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has demanded a compensation of 10 lakh for the victim. He has also insisted the state government to fill the vacancies in the health sector on a war-footing. The medical colleges have a capacity to test only 50 samples a day and has to handle at least three times the capacity. In the meantime, a protest is brewing up against the MCH authorities and laboratory where the woman’s pathology test was conducted with various political organizations holding a protest march to the hospital.