Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Feb 17: A five-month-old baby reportedly died at the Community Health Centre (CHC) Kupwara due to alleged medical negligence, with the family demanding an investigation into the matter.
Family members of the deceased infant said that their baby passed away at CHC Kupwara due to medical negligence. They called for a thorough inquiry.
According to them, they initially brought the baby, who was suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting to the hospital on Friday afternoon. However, after being discharged in the evening, the baby’s condition did not improve.
“On Saturday morning, we brought the baby back to the hospital, but there was no doctor available for treatment,” they said.
They alleged that only after the baby’s condition worsened, a doctor attended to him. “Even then, he was not referred to another hospital,” they said.
The government must order a thorough investigation to hold accountable any hospital staff found responsible for negligence.
Meanwhile, Dr Mohammad Shafi, the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, said that the baby received treatment from doctors at the hospital, including undergoing a USG (ultrasonography).
He said doctors attempted to intubate the baby as surgical intervention was deemed necessary. “But unfortunately, the baby passed away during the intubation process,” he said.
Dr Shafi said referral would have been considered post-intubation, but the baby succumbed before that could happen.
The Medical Superintendent, however, assured that an investigative committee has been formed to probe the matter thoroughly and that strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty of negligence.
