Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Aug 25: The male baby that was reportedly pronounced 'dead' by doctors and then found to be alive just before burial, passed away on Sunday August 24 in a private hospital in the city.
A premature baby was born to Kumpala residents Gauri and Pushparaj on August 15 in a private hospital in Kuthar. The baby was kept on ventilator, and on August 23, the doctors reportedly declared that the baby was 'dead'.
The baby was then taken for burial, but when milk was poured into its mouth as per tradition, the baby suddenly cried out, much to the astonishment and joy of the parents. The baby was then immediately rushed back to another hospital, where he was said to be recovering.
However, the joy of the parents was short-lived as the baby boy breathed his last on Sunday evening.
The doctors at the private hospital clarified that they never pronounced the baby as 'dead' and that the parents had got the baby discharged on their own accord. The baby was suffering from congenital kidney failure and the condition was critical. Though the baby was put on ventilator and kept under close watch, the condition deteriorated and a neurosonogram was done which showed features of intraventricular haemorrhage and other symptoms, indicating poor prognosis (chances of recovery). The condition of the baby was explained to the parents, who were then not willing to continue treatment. Hence the baby was discharged on request, stated the hospital.
Speaking to reporters, Dr Raghuveer, a senior doctor, pointed out that if the baby had been declared dead, a death certificate would have been issued by the hospital, which, in this case, was not. Hence, the baby's death was not caused due to negligence of doctors, he said.