The shocking death of a newborn boy child, just seconds after his birth falling into a water-filled bucket inside the labour room of a hospital, has now come under the scanner of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The dreadful incident occurred in Jajpur district, about 40 km from here on Tuesday.Viewing it as an extremely disgraceful act , a human rights activist has approached the NHRC seeking exemplary punishment to the erring hospital staff and suitable monetary relief to the parents of the deceased baby.The couple was waiting to be proud parents after 11 years of their marriage.
“I have rushed an application to the NHRC urging it to order an inquiry into the incident after taking cognisance of the matter, which is a fit case of violation of the Right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution,” said Prabir Kumar Das, HR activist and advocate of Odisha High Court.
Das said an expectant mother Manorama Jena (30) of Jajpur district was admitted in the hospital on Tuesday afternoon in the advance stage of her pregnancy. When the hospital gynaecologist sent her to the labour room, the nurse on duty did not attend to Manorama saying there would be a delay in delivery and went out of the labour room for lunch.
“But soon after the nurse went out of the labour room, Manorama delivered a baby boy and the newborn slipped from the bed to fall into a water-filled bucked kept by the side of the bed,” Das said, quoting the bereaved mother and alleged that this act of the hospital staff amounts to gross medical negligence.