UP: Medical Officer suspended in connection of 4 infant deaths

Uttar Pradesh: The medical officer in charge (MOIC) of Budaun Islamnagar Community Health Centre has been suspended by the Uttar Pradesh government on the basis of an inquiry report on the death of 4 newborns in one single night at CHC on May 31st.

According to the recent media reports, the suspension was ordered on charges of alleged medical negligence. This came after a probe was directed following the death of four infants in a single night at the community health centre situated at the Islamnagar town in the Uttar Pradesh District.

According to health department sources, the report has indicted the CHC staff for "negligence".

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Reports claim that a resident of Girdhapur and a resident of Alinagar both gave birth to baby boys but the newborn died within some time. In a separate incident of the Balapur village, another woman gave birth to a boy at late night but the newborn died within a short span of time. A similar incident occurred in the case of a fourth baby girl who died on the same night. The family members in the four incidents and the mother themselves alleged that they were asked to give rupees 1000 to 1500 for the delivery but since they were not in the position to pay, the authority handled their case with negligence in the treatment which led to the death of the infant's, reports UNI.

They alleged that the medical officer in charge of the health facility tried to hide the matter and called the victim for compromise but the victims demanded action and complained about the matter to the district magistrate and then the matter came to light. DM Kumar Prashant ordered an investigation and asked the CMO and the SDM to carry out a magisterial probe and to place a report regarding the same. 

On the basis of the reports, now the officer in charge has been suspended. Previously an FIR was registered against a retired nurse and her aid in this connection under section 304 of India Penal Code, reports TOI. After the deaths of newborns, the aggrieved family members had accused the CHC staff of laxity in providing treatment to the babies.

Chief Medical officer Dr. Yashpal Singh stated "the state government has suspended the medical officer in charge of Islam Nagar CHC. We have transferred the medical officer in charge of the chief medical office when the magisterial inquiry into the matter was ordered."