Sir — This refers to the editorial, “Murder by any standard” (August 14). An unmitigated tragedy has happened in Uttar Pradesh due to the failure of the State Government and the hospital administration to provide oxygen to poor children.
More reprehensible is the acceptance of such deaths as normal. Instead of finding out the truth about whether the infants’ oxygen supply was indeed cut off for non-payment of dues to the supplier, Kafeel Khan, the hospital pediatrician, who warned about the shortage of supply, was removed.
Khan, who was in-charge of the encephalitis ward, should be appreciated for his quick thinking as he saved lives by paying for extra oxygen cylinders from his personal savings and also took control of the situation by driving to private homes to borrow oxygen cylinders.