Mangalore: Babies die at Lady Goschen hospital - parents allege negligence

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Feb 1: Chaos prevailed at Lady Goschen hospital here on Friday February 1 as parents alleged that negligence of the hospital staff had led to the death of their babies.

It is said that there were two babies died at the hospital on February 1, among which one was born dead and another shortly after its birth.

When the parents of one of the babies took it for cremation to Nandigudda, they were told that the form was not signed as per requirement.

They were also told theirs was the sixth dead baby to be brought for cremation from Lady Goschen hospital over the last few days.

Shocked at this, the parents and other people went back to Lady Goschen and alleged that negligence of the hospital staff had led to the babies' death.

Shobha, whose daughter was admitted three days back, said that her daughter lost her baby as no proper tests were done before the delivery.

Shobha also alleged that some of the doctors have been demanding Rs 7000 from patients to save both mother and child. "Only those who paid the money had successful deliveries," she said.

Muneer Katipalla of DYFI who was at the spot said that nearly 80 percent of the hospital building had been demolished to build it anew, but it has been delayed indefinitely. "Meanwhile the poor are not getting proper facility and to top that, they are told to pay money too," he said.

Speaking to Daijiworld, superintendent of Lady Goschen hospital Dr Shakuntala said that in the case of the woman whose baby was born dead on February 1, the baby had died in the womb even before the woman got admitted in the hospital.

"As many as 20-25 deliveries take place in the hospital everyday, and most of them are outsiders referred by smaller hospitals in the outskirts. In such cases, babies cannot be saved everytime, and deaths occur. Also, in many cases the newborns are premature, and hence it is difficult to save them," she said.

She also said that contrary to what was alleged, the hospital provides all facilities, except hot water which will be introduced soon.

On the allegations that doctors demand payment for deliveries, she said that she was not aware of any such practice, and that if people face such demands they should approach her with a complaint.

Bunder police arrived at the spot and brought the situation under control.