Chennai: Rainbow Hospital's operations suspended, after video of YouTuber cutting newborn's umbilical cord surfaces

Chennai: Taking action against Chennai-based Rainbow Hospitals for allowing a YouTuber inside the operation theatre and permitting him to cut the umbilical cord of his newborn baby and record it, the Health Department of Tamil Nadu has barred it from all patient care activities for 10 days.

Therefore, the hospital will not be allowed to do any patient-care activities including out-patient services, registration of new patients, conducting elective surgeries, or admitting patients for 10 days. The only exception has been granted to pregnant women who registered with the hospital and consulted doctors there. Such women can be taken to the hospital for deliveries.

DMS Dr. J Rajamoorthy took this action against the hospital for violating the norms of the Tamil Nadu Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 by not adhering to the sterility protocols.

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Commenting on the matter, DMS Dr. Rajamoorthy told the Times of India, "They permitted a person inside the operation theatre and allowed him to cut the umbilical cord. The procedure was videographed and posted online. This is a gross violation."

DMS issued a show-cause notice to the hospital a day after the YouTuber Mohamed Irfan posted the video of his wife's delivery. Referring to this, Dr. Rajamoorthy told TOI, "We filed a complaint against Irfan with the police. A complaint against the Gynaecologist Dr Niveditha was lodged with the Medical Council."

As per the latest media report by Deccan Herald, the video of Irfan cutting his newborn's umbilical cord was posted over the weekend and it garnered about 14 lakh views. Later, he deleted the video from his YouTube channel after an uproar over the issue. However, the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services issued a notice to him and the private hospitals and sought an explanation on the issue.

In the video, the lady doctor could be seen asking Irfan if he wanted to cut the umbilical cord and instructed her associates to give him a pair of gloves. Following this, the doctor told the YouTuber "Very good" and consequently, the baby was taken from the operation theatre to a room nearby room for further care. Later, the doctor told Irfan's family members that he cut the umbilical cord. 

Taking cognizance of the issue, Health Minister Ma Subramanian informed that the Health Department filed a case before the Chemancherry Police station against the YouTuber and the lady doctor. As per the Minister, the video in question violated Section 34(1)&(2) of the National Medical Commission Act which clearly stated that anyone who is allowed to practice without being enrolled in the State or National Register may be punished with a maximum jail term of one year, or with fine extending to five lakh rupees or with both.

Now, taking action against the hospital, the DMS has withdrawn the Clinical Establishment Act registration of the Sholinganallur-based hospital on the IT Corridor for 10 days from October 24. Apart from issuing the order, J Rajamoorthy also slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 on the hospital.

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