Assam: Couple accuses Lakhimpur Hospital of baby swap

Guwahati: A complaint has been lodged with the Lakhimpur Medical College Hospital (LMCH) after the parents of a newborn alleged that their newborn was swapped by the hospital staff.

The incident took place when Chayanika Das, the mother, a resident of Lakhimpur town got admitted to the hospital and as per her statement, she gave birth to a boy whose weight was 2.8 kg on Saturday morning. After she was shifted to the post-natal ward on Sunday morning, she discovered that the nurse gave her a baby girl to which she argued and said that she clearly remembered that it was a boy. 

It was also revealed that this is not the first time the hospital has been at the centre of mismanagement. The government is closely monitoring the hospital, so if any further wrong moves are made in the future, it could backfire right away.

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However, the hospital authorities paid attention to the matter and ordered DNA testing and footprint analysis on the newborn baby. As per the hospital records, all the babies born in LMCH on Saturday were boys.

The additional superintendent of LMCH, Dr Nikhil Kakoty, told TOI "The baby was in the mother's custody on Saturday night. But after she woke up in the morning, the baby turned out to be a girl. Chayanika said the newborn was wrapped in cloth since birth and did not confirm whether the baby was a boy or a girl."

A baby girl was born at the hospital and the mother was discharged with her baby at 11 am on Sunday. The mother was admitted to the hospital on June 24. According to Dr Kakoty, they are looking into the possibility that the boy was misplaced with the girl.

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The hospital authorities are currently evaluating the issue of the displacement of the babies performed by the hospital staff involved in the case. Kakoty said that they have initiated a probe and soon the responsible party will be found.

"We are surprised at the complaint. There is no other alternative other than going for a DNA test of the parents and the child to ascertain whether she is their daughter. The samples will be sent to Guwahati," Kakoty added.