By Mariyam F.
On Monday, 7 September, Dr. Janarthanan Pownraj, a 26-year-old first-year student at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), died after reportedly suffering a cardiac arrest following a medical emergency during a class. Dr. Pownraj was pursuing an MPH in Health Administration at the School of Health Systems Studies at TISS, Mumbai.
As per his fellow classmates, he began experiencing breathlessness and chest pain at around 9:00 am during a lecture at the KRH building on TISS’s New Campus in Deonar, Mumbai. The class was being conducted by Professor M. Mariappan, Dean of the School of Health Systems Studies and Dean of Students’ Affairs at TISS. The dean initially attributed his discomfort to acidity, irregular eating habits and disrupted sleep cycle. Several members of the class, many of whom are medical graduates or have backgrounds connected to healthcare, urged the dean to treat Janarthanan’s condition as a serious health emergency.
After repeated discomfort, Janarthanan was taken to the campus health centre around 15 minutes after the emergency began. They alleged that no doctor was on duty, no ambulance was available and the health centre lacked basic emergency medical supplies. The students were notified that a doctor would only be available at the facility after 10:00 am.
The dean advised his classmates to rush him to Zen Hospital in Chembur, with which the school has an insurance tie-up which is located three kilometres from the campus. Students said one of Janarthanan’s classmates provided the car that was used to take him to the hospital.
The students questioned why Janarthanan was taken to Zen Hospital instead of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre hospital located across the road from the campus.
“We don’t have ambulances, no doctors before 10 and after 8”, a student said to Maktoob Media.
The students were also furious regarding the institute’s lack of communication after the incident. Several student federations have asked the institute to take accountability for the incident and to allocate proper 24x7 healthcare and emergency facilities at the campus.
TISS has not publicly addressed the specific allegations regarding the ambulance, health centre, absence of a trained medical professional or choice of hospital. However, it issued a statement expressing condolences to the family.
”It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the passing away of P. Janarthanan, a first year student of the School of Health Systems Studies at TISS Mumbai. Janarthanan left us too soon, and we at TISS extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. The TISS community shares the grief and sorrow that has befallen us all. We are with the family at this heartbreaking time, and our thoughts and prayers will always be with Janarthanan's family."
(Rh/MF/MSM)