An expert team led by Health department additional director V. Meenakshi on Friday examined the child born with severe abnormalities in Alappuzha. The team spoke with the child’s parents and visited Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) Alappuzha and Women and Children (W and C) Hospital, Alappuzha.
The expert team is expected to submit its report to the government in the coming days. Earlier, Health Minister Veena George appointed the team based on a complaint filed by Anish Muhammed from Lajnathul Ward in Alappuzha municipality stating that his wife, Surumy, gave birth to a child with severe congenital anomalies, including facial deformities, misaligned ears and eyes, atypical genitalia, a hole in the lungs, tongue retraction when lying on the back, and limb defects, on November 8. The family alleged lapses on the part of doctors at the W and C Hospital and at two private diagnostic centres for failing to identify the defects before birth, despite multiple antenatal scans during the pregnancy period.
Ms. Surumy had been under treatment at the W and C Hospital throughout her pregnancy before being referred to the MCH, a few days before delivery.
Plea to govt.
Speaking to mediapersons, Mr. Muhammed said the expert team had promised to arrange immediate treatment for the child in Alappuzha itself. “We expect the government will take over the treatment of the child and initiate action against doctors at W and C Hospital and two scanning centres,” he said.
The Alappuzha South police recently registered a case against four doctors – two gynaecologists at the W and C Hospital, Alappuzha, and two doctors at the private diagnostics centres – based on a complaint filed by Mr. Muhammed. The case was registered under Sections 125 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 125 (b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The doctors at the W and C Hospital have denied any negligence on their part.
Published – November 29, 2024 06:31 pm IST