The Hindu

• Hospital denies it was a case of medical negligence 
• KMC, Manipal, has been permitted to avail itself of the clinical facilities at government hospital
• Post-mortem will be conducted by a doctor of the family’s choice

Udupi, Sep 11: A premature baby died allegedly owing to medical negligence at the Government Women’s Maternity and Children’s Hospital here on Tuesday night.

The death sparked off a row between the baby’s father and progressive groups on the one side, and the hospital authorities on the other, on Wednesday. The former alleged that it was a case of medical negligence, while the latter denied it.

Prabhavati, wife of Pravin Palan, a resident of Udyavar, was admitted to the hospital 13 days ago.

Mr. Palan told presspersons on Wednesday that postgraduate students of Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal, conducted the Caesarean section on his wife, under the supervision of gynaecologist Roopa, also from KMC. “The negligence of the doctors resulted in the death of my child. I have filed a police complaint. I will not take back the body of my child until action is taken against the guilty doctors,” he said.

Various organisations such as the district units of Karnataka Komu Sauharda Vedike, Janapara Vedike and Dalit Sangharsha Samiti staged a dharna in front of the hospital, and blocked one side of the Kavi Muddanna Road on Wednesday evening.

The protestors later withdrew their dharna following talks with the Additional Superintendent of Police M.N. Nagaraj. Convener of Janapara Vedike Sriram Divana said medical negligence was the reason for the death of the baby. Ever since the KMC was given permission to use the district Government Hospital for clinical facilities, the entire system had got affected and doctors had become irresponsible, he charged.

Charge denied

However, District Surgeon Dayananda Nayak denied the charge of medical negligence. Dr. Nayak said, “It was a pre-term baby of 34 weeks. It was a breech presentation and polyhydramnios was present. It was a clear-cut indication for Caesarean section. All efforts were made to save the baby,” he said.

Dr. Nayak said that he had brought the matter to the notice of the Health Director Usha Vasankar. According to Dr. Vasankar’s direction, a post-mortem would be conducted and the body would be handed over to the parents.

Convener of DSS Jayan Malpe said that the police had agreed to register a FIR against the accused. The post-mortem would be conducted by a doctor of the family’s choice.

The authorities would forward demands such as compensation of Rs. 5 lakh to the parents of the baby and withdrawal of clinical facilities to the KMC at the district Government Hospital to the State Government, he added.