In an utterly horrific case of gross medical negligence, one of twins (a boy and a girl) born prematurely declared dead by doctors at Max Super Specialty Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, on November 30, was found alive just before his cremation, police said on Friday.
The boy is on a life support system in a nursing home. A family member said it was no less than shocker for the distraught family, who were carrying the bodies of twins packed in the polythene bags as was handed over to them by the hospital to a crematorium, when one of them showed sign of life. The family then rushed the newborn to a nursing home in Pitampura.
“We tore the packet, there were 2-3 clothes and polythene bags. The child was still breathing. We rushed the baby to a nearby nursing home,” Ashish, the father said.
Both the Centre and the Delhi Government immediately took cognisance of the matter with the latter ordering an enquiry into the incident, seeking a preliminary report within 72 hours. The Centre has asked the Delhi Government to immediately look into the
matter.
The Max Hospital in a statement termed the incident “unfortunate”.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “Enquiry ordered. Strongest action wud be taken if found guilty (sic)”.
Terming the incident “very unfortunate”, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said, “I have directed the Delhi Government to look into the matter and take necessary action.”
An order signed by Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said, “An enquiry regarding the said incident is to be initiated and a preliminary report is to be submitted within 72 hours and a final report within a week.” Narrating the incident, family members said six-month pregnant Varsha —who was earlier admitted at a nursing home in Paschim Vihar — was admitted to Max on November 28, where doctors told the family that her situation is critical and chances of newborns’ survival are less.
Varsha’s brother-in-law Deepak said she delivered the twins around 7.30 am on Thursday. The doctors informed the family that the girl was stillborn and the boy was alive and he had to be put on ventilator. However, around 12.30 pm the hospital said the boy was dead too and subsequently handed over the bodies of the twins to the family in polythene bags, he added.
“It has been brought to our attention that a premature (22 weeks), newborn baby who is reported to be on life support at a nursing home was unfortunately handed over without any sign of life by Max Hospital Shalimar Bagh. This baby was one of the twins delivered on morning of November 30. The other baby was stillborn. We are shaken and concerned at this rare incident,” it said the hospital in its statement.
It claimed to have initiated a detailed enquiry, pending which, the concerned doctor was asked to proceed on leave immediately.
On other hand, Dr KK Aggarwal president of Indian Medical Association (IMA) said such mistakes are ‘never mistakes’ in the medical profession and the hospital has broken a protocol for which it is answerable.
The Delhi Police registered a case under Section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the IPC — an offence punishable with imprisonment up to seven years -- against the hospital after family lodged a complaint with police.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Aslam Khan said information about the incident was received at Shalimar Bagh police station. “We are sending papers to Delhi Medical Council and Medical Council of India in light of judgment of Supreme Court,” he added.