Infants' death: Gynaecologist suspended, SMO transferred

Taking serious note of the death of five newborn babies at a civil hosital here, Punjab government today suspended a gynaecologist and transferred a medical officer, as Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal ordered an inquiry and said those found negligent "would not be spared".
Punjab Health Minister Surjeet Kumar Jayani placed gynaecologist Dr Alka Mittal posted at Ludhiana Civil Hospital here under suspension with immediate effect and transferred Senior Medical Officer Dr R K Karkara.
Condoling the death of the newborns, the Chief Minister said he has asked officers to ascertain the causes and circumstances which led to the incident and submit an inquiry report at the earliest.

Assuring prompt action, Badal said if laxity was found on the part of any public servant in dealing with this incident, he/she "would not be spared and brought to book as per the law of the land".
Three days after the inauguration of a mother-child wing at the hospital, four new-borns died yesterday during the time of delivery, which the families alleged were carried out by "class IV employees in the absence of gynaecologists".
Another death of a newborn was reported today, according to health officials.
Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Rajat Agarwal has been asked to hold a thorough inquiry and submit the report to the government within a week.

He has also been asked to constitute his own team of officers either from the head office or the district to hold an independent inquiry into the entire incident.