Parents on hunger strike; say 'sack unit head'

Kolkata: Family members of Oyetri Dey, the two-and-half-year-old girl who died of alleged medical negligence at AMRI Hospital, Mukundapur, organised a candle-light march outside the hospital campus seeking justice.

The victim's parents — Shampa and Jayanta Dey — on Saturday once again made it clear that they would go on a hunger strike for an indefinite period until the CEO of the hospital is removed from his post and the unit head is sacked.

It may be mentioned here that unit head Jayanti Chattopadhyay, who had abused the deceased's parents, has been removed from duty and a probe has been initiated by the hospital authorities who formed a six-member committee on Friday to investigate the alleged negligence.

The family members of the victim along with several others took part in a candle-light march on Saturday morning demanding justice for the minor. They staged a sit-in demonstration outside the hospital when some of the senior officials of the hospital told the agitating family members that action will be taken against Chattopadhyay. They also assured that the police complaint lodged against the family members by the hospital would also be withdrawn. However, Oyetri's parents seemed unmoved and demanded that the unit head must be sacked immediately and the CEO of the hospital should tender his resignation. They also demanded that action should be taken against the doctors who were responsible for the death of the minor.

The hospital authorities on Friday afternoon suspended unit head Jayanti Chattopadhyay who had allegedly misbehaved with the victim's parents following her death. The parents have already lodged a complaint with the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission (WBCERC) following the intervention of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

They also registered a complaint with the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) urging it to conduct a probe against the doctor whose negligence led to the death of their daughter. A police investigation is also on in this regard.