Health Min seeks report from hospitals over newborn's death

The Union Health Ministry has sought a report from two hospitals here for denying treatment to a newborn baby having respiratory problems, resulting in its death.
"We have sought a report from RML and Kalawati Saran Children's hospital over the allegations of the deceased newborn's family that the death occured as hospitals denied treatment to their child," said a senior official from the Health Ministry.
According to relatives of the parents, the child was born in a private hospital in Budh Vihar on Sunday noon but doctors informed them that the baby had respiratory problem and needed to be kept on ventilator for 48 hours.

As the parents could not afford treatment at private hospital, they took the baby to Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital and RML Hospital. Both refused treatment citing non-availability of bed and ventilator.
They then took the child to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP) where he was declared dead before treatment could be given.
Following the Union Health Ministry's directive, RML hospital has constituted a three-member committee comprising two doctors from Paediatric department and its Deputy Labour Welfare Commissioner to probe the matter. A report is likely to be submitted in a day or two.

"The Medical Superitendent (MS) Dr A K Gadpayle today summoned the Head of Paediatric department and also the senior resident doctor who was on duty at 12.10 pm yesterday when the incident happened.

"Also the in-charges of Casualty and Emergency have been questioned by the MS in this regard," said a senior doctor at the hospital, and confirmed that the Health Ministry has sought a report from the MS.
Authorities at Kalawati Saran Children Hospital however refused to comment on the issue.