TN sets up three teams to probe deaths of infants

The Tamil Nadu government today formed three teams to study the reasons behind the death of 11 infants at its Dharmapuri Hospital.
Tiruvannamalai Medical College Dean and neo-natal specialist R Narayana Babu, who has been given additional charge as Dharmapuri Medical College Hospital Dean, told PTI that no fresh deaths have been reported since last night.
Four babies, whose condition became critical, have been put on ventilator support, he said, adding, these infants are underweight.
"Since November 14, there have been 11 deaths. We have formed three teams to study the incident. One team is headed by me, second team is headed by Institute of Child Health, Egmore, Director and another a nursing team", Babu said.

He attributed the deaths to respiratory problems and low birth weight.
Director of Medical Education Department Dr S Geethalakshmi, who also visited the hospital and the neo-natal ICU, said 54 babies undergoing treatment were on the recovery path and were now fed by their mothers.
"Some of the babies born were under weight like 1.75 kg or 1.6kg. There have been similar instances in the past", Dharmapuri Government College and Hospital, Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit Nodal Officer, Pugalanthiraja said.
Former Union Minister G K Vasan has demanded a thorough probe into the incident.