A one and a half year old child died after being given anesthesia for stitching his lips in Kannur, Kerala. Minister K Muraleedharan has ordered a DMO inquiry into this matter. Police have registered a case against the doctor of the private hospital.
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [भारत]July 11 (ANI): Kerala Minister K Muraleedharan on Saturday said the District Medical Officer (DMO) will investigate the death of an 18-month-old boy in Kannur due to alleged complications after being given anesthesia to stitch his cleft lip.
Minister ordered investigation
Speaking to ANI, Muraleedharan said that a complaint has also been lodged with the police and stressed that even though it is a private hospital, such treatment should not be allowed. “It was reported yesterday, and the DMO (district medical officer) will investigate the matter. We have also lodged a complaint with the police department. Although it is a private hospital, such treatment should not be allowed,” he said.
What is the whole matter?
The minister’s comments came after the post-mortem of child Devansh Shauria was conducted at the Kannur Government Medical College on Saturday. Devansh died on Friday night at Baby Memorial Hospital in Kannur. He remained in critical condition for five days after being given anesthesia during a procedure to stitch a cut on his lip.
Devansh, the only son of T Suraj and Vijeesha, residents of Mathamangalam in Eramam-Kuttur gram panchayat, was injured after falling while playing at their home on July 5. Her parents took her to Baby Memorial Hospital in Payyanur, where doctors administered anesthesia to stitch the wound. Soon after the procedure, his condition deteriorated and he lost consciousness. Later he was shifted to the Kannur unit of the hospital for better treatment, where he died around 9 pm on Friday night.
Based on the complaint lodged by K Rajeevan, the child’s relative, the Payyanur police have registered a case against Dr Anjali Poduval, anesthetist of Baby Memorial Hospital, Payyanur. The doctor has been booked under section 125 of the Indian Code of Justice (BNS), which deals with acts endangering life or personal safety.
Protest outside the hospital
Meanwhile, activists of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) took out a protest march to Baby Memorial Hospital in Payyanur demanding action in the case of the child’s death.
The hospital denied the allegations of negligence
Baby Memorial Hospital has denied the allegations of medical negligence. In an earlier statement, the hospital had said that the child suffered an unexpected cardiac arrest soon after anesthesia and was immediately put on ventilator support, following which he was shifted to its Kannur unit for better critical care. The hospital said that complications can occur after anesthesia despite proper dosing and medical care, and added that all accepted treatment protocols were followed and every possible effort was made to save the child’s life.
Further investigation is ongoing in the matter. (ANI)
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