Newborn death during delivery sparks protest at Punalur Taluk Hospital

Kollam: Allegations of medical negligence have surfaced after a newborn died during a Caesarean section at Punalur Taluk Hospital on Wednesday morning, prompting the infant’s relatives to stage a protest outside the hospital.

According to the family, the baby died while the C-section procedure was in progress. The relatives alleged that negligence by doctors or other healthcare workers at the hospital led to the death.

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DYFI activists have blockaded the hospital superintendent, demanding an investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, Minister Bindu Krishna said that the DMO will investigate the infant's death. The minister also said that the bribery allegations against the doctor will be examined, reports Manorama.

Following the protest, police personnel from Punalur reached the hospital and recorded the statement of the infant’s father. The father also alleged that the doctor who treated the baby had taken a bribe.

The infant’s body was later shifted from Punalur Taluk Hospital to Government Medical College Hospital, Parippally, for a postmortem examination. The family said it planned to pursue legal action against the hospital in connection with the death.

However, the hospital authorities rejected the allegations of medical negligence. They said the C-section was performed after an emergency arose during the delivery and maintained that the death was not due to negligence, reports TNIE.

Police have initiated proceedings based on the complaint. Further details are expected to emerge after the postmortem examination, which could help establish the circumstances surrounding the newborn’s death.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that, in a shocking incident, a needle was found lodged inside the body of a one-year-old girl, with her parents alleging on Friday that it may have been left behind during treatment at Kottayam Medical College Hospital, following which a medical negligence complaint was filed against the hospital.

Also Read:Needle found inside 1 year old's body, parents allege medical negligence at Kottayam MCH