Parents of premature twins have alleged medical negligence against a private hospital in Delhi after one of their newborn babies, who was declared dead by a doctor, was found to be alive later. The family has filed a complaint with the police.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda has asked the Delhi government to look into the matter and take necessary action, PTI reported. In an order, the Aam Aadmi Party-led government in the national Capital said, “An inquiry regarding the said incident is to be initiated and a preliminary report is to be submitted within 72 hours and a final report within a week.”
The twins were born at Max Hospital Shalimar Bagh on Thursday morning. The woman had been brought to the hospital from a nursing home in Paschim Vihar. “The doctors had told the family that she was serious and the chances of survival of the twins were slim, as she was six months pregnant,” the police told PTI.
After the woman gave birth to a boy and a girl, the family was informed that their twins were stillborn. The family has alleged that the babies were handed to them in a plastic bag. When the parents were on their way to a crematorium to perform their last rites, they found that the boy was still alive. The surviving twin is being treated at a nursing home in Pitampura.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said stringent action will be taken against the hospital if it is found guilty. The government had sought a report from the hospital authorities and had directed his department to conduct an inquiry into this “unacceptable act”, state Health Minister Satyendar Jain said.
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In a statement, Max hospital has said that it was “shaken and concerned at this rare incident”. “It has been brought to our attention that a premature, newborn baby who is reported to be on life support at a nursing home was unfortunately handed over [to the parents] without any sign of life by Max Hospital Shalimar Bagh,” it said.
The hospital also said that the doctor in question has been sent on leave with immediate effect and that the administration was providing all the support to the parents of the newborn baby.
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