3-year-old dies after snakebite; family alleges treatment delay
Thane- In a tragic incident, a three-year-old boy died on Friday after being bitten by a poisonous snake, with his family alleging a delay in treatment at Ulhasnagar Central Hospital.
However, the hospital administration denied the allegations, stating that the child had arrived in critical condition and was immediately provided with treatment.
The deceased, identified as Sultan, was reportedly playing at his home near the Shiv Temple in Prakash Nagar, Ambernath East, when a snake allegedly bit him on the waist.
According to the family, they rushed the child to Ulhasnagar Central Hospital immediately. They alleged that doctors asked them to identify the snake and show a photograph of it before starting treatment. The family claimed that this process resulted in a delay, which contributed to the child's death.
“The doctors allegedly asked us to show them a photograph of the snake that bit our son. They said treatment could only proceed after identifying the snake. While we were struggling to explain the situation, valuable time was lost,” a family member claimed.
The boy's death sparked anger among family members; they reportedly staged a protest at the hospital and demanded action against the medical staff.
The hospital administration dismissed these allegations. Speaking to the HT, Dr Manohar Bansode, the head of the hospital, said that the boy was brought to the hospital around 12:30 PM and was gasping for breath. Four doctors immediately began treatment. He was administered CPR and anti-venom, but could not be saved.
The doctor also stated that the child had been bitten by a snake around 11 a.m., and by the time he reached the hospital, the critical window for treatment had already passed. He further added that snakebite cases involving young children require immediate treatment, and every possible effort was made to save the child after he arrived at the hospital.
