Death of four infants in less than 12 hours created a situation of panic in Doon Women Hospital here on Sunday. The incident shocked the hospital authorities, patients and their relatives as many people gathered in the hospital and alleged negligence on part of doctors.
However, the hospital authorities claimed that three out of four new born babies who died were pre mature, under weight, suffered form acute infection and had respiratory problems.
The father of one of the infant who died on Sunday morning, Mukesh Kannoujia told The Pioneer that the baby was born on Friday and was healthy. He said that on Sunday morning when he found that the baby was crying uncontrollably he informed the attending nurse who took the baby to Nursery.
Kannoujia who is a resident of Nemi Road in Dalanwala alleged that the nurses left the baby unattended in the nursery and in absence of any medical help his new born child died.
The child was born in the hospital and was to be released on Sunday. The divisional Vice President of BJP, Jaipal Valmiki who was present on the occasion with his supporters said that the doctors and staff of the hospital are responsible for the death of infants.
He claimed when confronted the hospital staff curtly told the protestors that death of new born babies is a common thing in hospital.
The Officiating Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) of hospital Dr Tripti Bahuguna told The Pioneer that two infants, Baby of Shanu and Baby of Mamta were 30 weeks and 26 weeks old at the time of birth and weighed only 1.2 kg and 900 grams respectively. She added that both these children were referred from other hospitals and were suffering from severe infection and had respiratory distress.
Dr Bahuguna said that third infant was HIV positive and had asphyxia at the time of birth. She accepted that the fourth infant (baby of Geeta) was healthy at the time of birth but and was dead when Doctor on duty Dr Seema Verma checked him.
The officiating CMS claimed that such incidences are not rare and are called as Sudden infant death Syndrome by doctors. She said that the nursery of the hospital caters about 180 premature and severely ill infants every month out of which 20-30 such infant die. Dr Bahuguna said that the hospital administration would constitute an inquiry on the deaths of the infants.