GMCH Infant Death: CM Sarma vows action, says Principal will not be transferred
Infant Death at GMCH
Guwahati: Following a tragic incident at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where a four-day-old infant died under suspicious circumstances in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has assured that strict action will be taken against those found responsible. However, he clarified that the hospital’s principal will not be transferred.
The incident occurred on Monday and has deeply shocked the public. The infant born on August 15 and admitted to the NICU for infection and jaundice was found hanging from the wires of a medical equipment. One nurse has since been arrested for alleged negligence.
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According to the TOI, "I saw with my own eyes that negligence was there. A child died. The nurses are themselves mothers, and they can understand the pain of losing a child even more than I can," the CM said when asked about GMCH nurses protesting against the arrest of their colleague. He added that the three-member probe committee formed by the government will submit its report within a day or two.
The chief minister confirmed that a preliminary review revealed negligence on the part of a nurse, who has already been arrested in connection with the case. Speaking to TOI, Sarma said, "Arrests should not be the objective. It could provoke the doctors elsewhere, and they could also go on a protest. The inquiry committee will submit its report in two to three days, and then we will decide." He added that action will be taken against all found guilty in the inquiry.
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Dismissing the allegations that the GMCH is understaffed, he said, "Be it nurses, doctors, grade 4 and grade 3 employees, there are more staff than required at GMCH,” reports TOI.
Amid calls for accountability from some quarters, the chief minister made it clear that the principal of GMCH will not be removed over the incident.
Sarma stated that it is a big hospital and mistakes can happen, as to err is human. Focusing only on the errors, he noted, may demoralize those doing good work. He stressed that the matter should not be turned into a public debate or used for TRP and assured that appropriate action would be taken.
