Death of infant sparks outrage in city hospital

Kolkata: Tension ran high at the Dr B C Roy Post Graduate Institute of Pediatric Sciences on Wednesday, following the death of an 18-month-old girl child, the family members of whom have brought charges of negligence against the hospital authorities.

The victim's family members staged a demonstration inside the hospital campus till Thursday morning, when a huge contingent of police reached the spot and brought the situation under control. The agitation was lifted after the senior police officers assured the family members that a detailed probe would be conducted into the incident.

It has been learnt that Md Sayed, a resident of Rajarhat, had brought his 18-month-old girl Jania Parveen to the hospital at around 9 pm on Wednesday, after she complained of respiratory distress. The patient died at around 11.30 pm. As the news spread, the family members of the victim started a demonstration in the hospital, alleging that they were not informed that the patient had turned critical. They alleged that the child had died due to negligence on part of the doctors and nursing staff members. The family members also demanded a high level inquiry into the death of the child. They raised questions on how a girl, who was complaining of respiratory distress, died just a couple of hours after her admission to the hospital.

As the agitation was going on, some of the hospital staff called up Phool Bagan police station and narrated the whole incident. Police reached the spot within the next few minutes. A heated altercation broke out between the policemen and the family members of the victim. Some of the senior police officers pacified the mob and assured them that action will be taken against those who will be found guilty.