Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (MS)

Puttur, Aug 6: In a heart-wrenching incident a six-day-old newborn died while on the way to home from the hospital. The parents of the deceased newborn have accused the doctors of Lady Goschen Hospital of Mangaluru of negligence and irresponsibility in sending the baby and the mother to their home even when the baby was not completely okay.

This incident occurred on Sunday, August 5 at Kayaradka of Kutruppadi village near here.

Vasanthi, wife of Dalit daily wage labourer Shekhar, a resident of Kayaradka had been to the Kadaba community hospital for her second delivery on July 30. However, the doctors at Kadaba had sent Vasanthi to Lady Goschen Hospital citing the difficulty during delivery as the reason. On the same day, Vasanthi had given birth to a baby boy after she underwent a Caesarean.

Discharged even though the baby had issues

The parents of the baby said "The baby which weighed 2.65 kg at birth was alright in the beginning. However, after some time, the baby was not taking the breastfeed properly. We had informed the doctor about this issue. Still, the doctors discharged the mother and the baby on August 4. However, we remained in the hospital itself as the baby was not well. However, on Sunday some other patient was made to sleep on the bed on which our baby was sleeping. We were forcefully sent to our native place Kadaba by a 108 ambulance,"

Dr Suchithra Rao, medical officer of Kadaba community hospital visited the house and gathered all the information from the parents.

"Though we pleaded with the doctors that the health of the baby is not alright, they said that the baby is healthy and we are acting in order to remain in the hospital and forcefully sent us in ambulance to Kadaba. Within half an hour of reaching Kadaba, the baby died. Doctor's negligence is the reason for the death of the newborn. Justice should be served to us," said the grandmother of the deceased child.

Giving clarification on the issue, district health officer, Dr Ramakrishna Rao said, "I have contacted the superintendent of the Lady Goschen Hospital. According to her, the baby was healthy during the discharge. I have informed the family members of the child to register a complaint with the police and get the post-mortem of the baby done in order to clear the air over the matter,"

Guruvappa Kallugudde, leader Dalita Sangarsha Samithi SS, said, "Because of the negligence of the doctors, a poor family has lost their child. A lawful protest will be held against this injustice. A complaint will be given to concerned officials and the state health minister,"