KEM Hospital: Suspension of Dean demanded after infant arm charred in ICU fire

Aggrieved standing committee member, Prabhakar Shinde, demanded an immediate suspension of the KEM Dean Dr Hemant Deshmukh.

Mumbai: Days after taking charge as the Dean of KEM Hospital, Dr Hemant Deshmukh has landed in controversy after a two-month-old infant lost an arm due to grave burn injuries as a result of suspected short-circuit in ECG machine that caused a fire accident allegedly due to negligence by the hospital authorities.

The incident took place on November 6 at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. The two-month-old baby identified as Prince Rajbhar was brought to KEM hospital for the treatment of congenital heart aliment. He was placed on ventilator when some wires caught fire and he suffered 18 to 22 per cent burn injuries.

Thereafter, an amputation surgery was conducted after the doctors found blood flow to his half-charred limb was blocked leading to ischaemia.

The tragedy created an uproar and a case under IPC section 338 (causing grievous hurt due to negligent act) was registered at Bhoiwada police station by the patient's kin. Section 338 attracts a maximum sentence of two years’ jail. As per the police officials, the case was registered against hospital employees who were responsible for maintenance of electrical equipment inside the ICU ward of the hospital, however, no arrests were made.

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“We have recorded the statements of the doctors, hospital staffers and the parents. We are now waiting for reports from the fire brigade, BSES and the hospital dean. We will fix responsibility once we have all the findings,” Vinod Kamble, senior inspector of Bhoiwada police station told TOI.

The ECG machine that malfunctioned and caused the short-circuit has been sent for forensic analysis. BMC officials have maintained that the ECG machine was serviced only two months ago and was in use since 2017, suggests the daily.

Meanwhile, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated a probe in the matter. A standing committee led by Dr RN Bharmal has been constituted. The committee is also recording statements of doctors, staffers and eyewitnesses and will prepare and submit a report after three days.

Further course of action will be decided based on the report. In the meantime, Amey Ghole, BMC’s health committee chairman, has demanded the municipal commissioner to provide compensation to the child’s family.

However, the municipal commissioner refused to give any sort of compensation stating that a detailed inquiry will be conducted and action will be taken accordingly.

Additional municipal commissioner Pravin Darade told HT, “It is a very serious matter and we will conduct an inquiry into the same by taking action against responsible officers. Maintenance of all the equipment will be reviewed.”

Aggrieved standing committee member, Prabhakar Shinde, demanded an immediate suspension of the KEM Dean Dr Hemant Deshmukh.

"The inquiry can be done while the concerned officer is on suspension. Don't take action only against the junior staff, Shinde told Midday.

As per a recent report in The Hindu, the committee members also added that the BMC should have a transparent compensation policy and senior hospital authorities should be held accountable.