Relatives accuse doctor of being drunk, ransack hospital after infant dies

The parents of a new-born boy – who died at Gangarampur hospital of South Dinajpur on Friday – accused the doctor who was treating the infant of being drunk and making mistakes in his treatment.

The relatives of the infant later ransacked the hospital and blocked the Gangarampur Road for several hours.

The hospital initially admitted the infant with his mother Ruksana Biwi. However, after the infant boy’s condition had deteriorated, they declined to transfer the boy to Kolkata for better treatment. The infant boy was operated upon by a doctor, but he did not survive.

The parents of the infant accused the doctor of being inebriated and later their family members barged into the hospital and broke the hospital property, including operation theatre. Police rushed to the hospital after they were informed about the incident by the hospital authorities.

“We have arrested some of the relatives of the infant’s mother. Some of these relatives broke the operation theatre and looted valuable instruments. But there were at least eight or nine people who fled after the incident,” a police officer said.

The accused doctor, however, was called upon by the hospital authority. “There was an allegation that the doctor was drunk. We will definitely probe the allegation,” said a senior doctor of the hospital.

Ruksana Biwi was called by the senior doctor and she lodged a written complaint with the medical superintendent.

“The accused doctor will have to face strong punishment if the allegation is found to be true,” said the senior doctor.