Another medical mishap: 9-yr-old dies in pvt hospital

NEW DELHI: In another case of medical negligence, a five-year old girl, who was diagnosed with congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia (CDA) and admitted to BLK Super Speciality Hospital here, succumbed to infection after a bone marrow transplant.

A source, who did not wish to be named, said "The family was assured that hospital is well-equipped and capable of conducting a bone marrow transplant. The doctors assured the family that a match for the girl had also been found."

He further said the victim Deeva had been admitted to the isolation ward of the hospital for 25 days, after the bone marrow transplantation, with only her mother staying with her.

"Nobody and nothing from outside was allowed in," he added.

On November 11, the bone marrow transplant surgery was conducted and two days later, Deeva developed a fever.

Doctors assured it would not be an issue, but on November 22, Deeva complained of a headache and faced difficulty breathing. Doctors administered some medicines, maintaining that she was well.

The next day, doctors suggested moving her to the ICU as a "precautionary measure" and then suggested putting her on ventilator support, stating that it would "help her breathe".

According to the family, on the afternoon of November 25, the doctors declared Deeva dead.

Deeva's father, Neeraj Garg, said that the doctors claimed she suddenly got an infection, which spread uncontrollably.

"When she was in isolation ward, how did she get an infection? They have not given us any explanation," Garg said.

"We kept asking them whether they were capable of performing the operation and they kept reassuring us. After my daughter passed away, when I asked them what operation they performed, they told me that they will not be able to describe the type of operation."

He added that since Deeva's demise, her mother has taken ill. Garg added that they could not file for action against the hospital since his wife was unwell, but will soon file a complaint.