Family of dead baby allege medical neglect, ransack hospital
Kolkata: Family members of an infant, who died of alleged medical negligence at Panskura Superspecialty Hospital in East Midnapore, ransacked a portion of the hospital on Monday morning.
The incident sparked tension in the area with local residents joining the protest by victim's family members. A huge contingent of police rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control.
The family members of the victim alleged that some nurses did not attend the woman when she was in labour pain. They further alleged that the nurses remained glued to their mobile phones when they repeated urged to attend the patient. The patient was provided treatment after her condition turned critical and the alleged neglect led to the death of the newborn.
It was alleged that the patient, Jesminara Bibi, a resident of Badbahala village of Mecheda in East Midnapore was taken to the Panskura Superspecialty Hospital on Friday afternoon. The family members claimed that the doctors in the hospital told them there was no need to conduct any surgery on the patient and the woman could undergo normal delivery.
The doctors waited for the patient to go into labour. The woman went into labour on Sunday night. The family members of the woman told the on-duty nurses to attend the patient but they were reportedly busy talking over the phone.
The nurses did not pay any heed despite being urged for help, alleged the family members of the victim woman.
The condition of the woman turned serious early in the morning on Monday. The nurses called up the doctors and conducted a surgery on the patient. The woman gave birth to a baby boy who died a few minutes later after the delivery.
As the news of the baby's death started spreading, the victim's relatives joined by some local residents gathered outside the hospital to stage a demonstration on the hospital campus to protest against the negligence by the hospital authorities. The mob soon turned violent and started ransacking a portion of the hospital.
Anwar Khan, the woman's husband said the nurses were talking over the phone despite they were urged for help when the patient turned critical. They lodged a complaint with the hospital authorities in this regard and demanded a probe into the incident. A senior official of the hospital said that a probe has been initiated and steps would be taken against those who were found guilty.
