The pitiable condition of Bengal’s ailing health service was once again brought to the fore by the unusual death of two infants undergoing phototherapy at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, the oldest such healthy care service in Asia.
Two infants suffering from jaundice were admitted for phototherapy and were kept under the radiant burner machine, parents of one of the victims said adding the victims died of excessive heat as the healthcare staff had failed to adjust the thermometer fixed with the unit.
The deaths that happened five days ago only came to light on Wednesday when the victims formally lodged a complaint with the authorities.
What was more shocking that in an apparent attempt to hide the facts the death certificate issued by the Hospital did not mention the reason of the death, sources complained.
“These machines are meant for one patient at a time whereas they are cramming these units with 3-4 patients,” said Md Aslam a relative of one of the victims adding “when the victims’ mothers were frantically calling the doctors to show how the babies were going blue no doctor turned up.”: To add insult to injury “the sisters laughed at their ‘ignorance’ saying such incidents were a normal affair.”