Newborn dies 2 days after rat bite at Indore Hospital, 2 nurses suspended
Newborns Bitten by Rats in Intensive Care Unit
Indore: In a shocking incident of alleged medical negligence at Maharaja Yashwantrao Hospital (MYH) in Indore, two newborns were bitten by rats inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). One of the newborns, bitten over the weekend, passed away on Tuesday. However, hospital authorities stated that the cause of death was her critical medical condition, not the rat bite.
The incidents occurred on consecutive nights—Sunday and Monday—inside the NICU of Maharaja Yashwantrao Hospital. Both newborns, less than a week old, sustained injuries to their fingers, head, and shoulders, hospital officials confirmed. Fortunately, both infants are reported to be safe and are under continuous medical supervision.
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In response to the incident, the Madhya Pradesh Medical Education Department issued a show-cause notice to the dean of MGM Medical College, to which MY Hospital is affiliated. The hospital administration also took disciplinary action against multiple staff members. Two nurses were suspended, while show-cause notices were issued to the head nurse, the PICU in charge, and the head of the paediatric surgery department. Additionally, the nursing superintendent was removed from her position and replaced.
Speaking to NDTV, another senior doctor, Dr Brajesh Lahoti, said, "There is a large population of rats inside the hospital. We have instructed staff to remain alert, iron nets are being installed, and a large-scale pest control plan is being drawn up to prevent recurrence."
The infant girl who died weighed just 1.2 kg at birth and, according to doctors, suffered from multiple congenital anomalies, low haemoglobin levels, and underdeveloped organs. She was also undergoing treatment for septicemia.
Speaking to TOI, MGM Medical College dean Dr Arvind Ghanghoria said that an autopsy of the body was performed on Tuesday, and the report will further establish the cause of the death.
Additionally, the pest control agency Agile Company has been fined ₹1 lakh and warned of termination of their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the hospital. MYH Superintendent Dr. Ashok Yadav has been instructed to conduct immediate and thorough pest control measures across the facility.
The Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) has also taken suo motu cognizance of the incident. Acting Chairperson Rajeev Kumar Tandon has directed the hospital to submit a detailed report within a month on actions taken. The commission termed the incident a “prima facie violation of human rights,” adding that the safety and hygiene protocols at MY Hospital have come under severe scrutiny.
According to TOI, a high-level six-member inquiry committee, including senior doctors, has been formed to investigate the incident and submit a report. The rat-biting incident has once again put the spotlight on MY Hospital's failing infrastructure, sanitation issues, and inadequate supervision, turning a long-standing problem into a public embarrassment for the state.
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