An infant’s death due to alleged medical negligence blew the lid off the crib deaths at B.C. Roy Institute of Paediatric Sciences in Beliaghata on Sunday. At least five newborns have died at the hospital in the last 24 hours.
The infant’s death created an uproar on Sunday evening. The angry relatives of Soumik Halder, the five-month-old deceased, protested inside the hospital premises and also put up a road blockade outside, prompting the police to rush to the hospital. They accused an on-duty nurse of ignoring the baby’s condition which led to his death in front of his mother Sunita Halder at around 6 pm. Much to her horror, the resident of Nabadwip in Nadia was also allegedly shoved off by the security staff at the hospital for venting her anger against the nurse.
Ms Halder, who had come to see Soumik, admitted at ward no. 6 since Saturday, recalled, “My son was suffering from cough and cold and was on oxygen. When the supply finished, I drew the attention of the sister urging her to arrange for a new oxygen cylinder. She ignored my pleas and asked me to leave with my son. She told me in anger that nothing happens at a government hospital so quickly. Within few minutes, my son died.”
Ms Halder further added that when she complained to the nurse, the latter allegedly insulted her for being poor. “Where will the poor go if not government hospitals?” Ms Halder asked in tears.
At around 7 pm, her relatives blocked the road for nearly half-an-hour. Later, they lodged a complaint of medical negligence with the police.
Hospital sources revealed that four more newborns had died. Medical superintendent-cum-vice-principal of the hospital Dilip Kumar Pal confirmed it. He said, “In total, five newborns, including Soumik Halder, have died since Saturday night. Aged between two days and five months, they were referred to our hospital from other districts in critical condition. Our doctors tried hard to save the newborns but could not as their conditions were critical. I will send a report about the deaths to Swasthya Bhavan on Monday.”