Newborn dies during emergency C-section at Kerala hospital, family alleges negligence

KOLLAM: A newborn died during an emergency Caesarean section at Punalur Taluk Hospital on Wednesday morning. The child’s family protested outside the hospital and accused its medical staff of negligence.

The woman had been admitted for delivery the previous day, according to reports. Her relatives said they were later informed that her condition had deteriorated and that an emergency procedure was required.

The family alleged that the surgery was conducted without obtaining their consent. They said they were informed about the child’s death only after the procedure.

Hospital authorities rejected the negligence allegation. They said an emergency C-section became necessary after the umbilical cord prolapsed during delivery and maintained that there had been no lapse in treatment.

Punalur police reached the hospital following the protest and recorded a statement from the child’s father, Anoop.Media that police registered a case of unnatural death.

The child’s body was moved to Government Medical College Hospital in Parippally for a postmortem examination. Police said the cause of death would become clearer after the report was received.