Reports sought from hospitals that turned away child

The state Health department has sought a report from the five state-run hospitals which had allegedly refused admission to 8-year-old Karim Mollah, a resident of Jibantala in South 24 Parganas who had a nail stuck in his left eye.

It was alleged that the victim was denied admission by these hospitals in the city on Saturday and he had to suffer the pain for over ten hours. A sharp nail accidentally pierced his left eye as he was playing at an under-construction building in front of his home on Saturday. The state Health department will carry out an investigation into the alleged negligence by the five government-run hospitals and action will be taken against those who will be found guilty.

The victim's family rushed him to Canning sub-divisional hospital in the district as blood started oozing profusely from his eye. The baby was, however, referred to Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital where he was allegedly denied admission. Karim was referred to SSKM Hospital further, the only state-run superspecialty hospital in the state. He was again refused admission before being sent to nearby Bangur Institute of Neurology. He was again referred to the Regional Institute of Opthalmology at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. The ordeal continued for eight hours till the victim was taken to the NRS Medical College and Hospital on Saturday evening.

It has been alleged that the NRS Medical College and Hospital had also denied him admission initially. Following repeated pleas by the victim's family, the NRS Medical College and Hospital finally admitted the victim.

The hospital authorities have constituted a medical board with six senior doctors who are also the heads of various departments. The victim on Monday was shifted to the Neuro surgery department from the Eye department of the hospital. It has been learnt from the hospital sources that the victim has been complaining some neurological problems. The doctors in the hospital suspect that as a 5 inche nail impaled his left eye near the eye ball, it is suspected that it might have affected the tissues connecting the brain with the eyes. There was also a blood clot on the left eye where the nail was stuck. According to the doctors, the nail has been removed but it is feared that it might cause some

neurological complications. They suspect that baby's brain might have suffered damage due to the incident. A CT Scan which was done earlier on the patient had revealed marks of injuries on the frontal lobe of his brain.

An MRI scan has been performed on the patient on Monday to find out the actual condition of the injury and how it affected the brain tissues. The doctors would have an idea after the MRI report comes in. The victim has been complaining of tremendous pain on his head and he vomited a number of times from Monday morning.

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee intervened and asked the hospital authorities to do the needful to provide the boy the best treatment.