HIGH COURT LOOKS INTO INFANT DEATHS

OHTER STORIES

Moved by the plight of unclaimed bodies of infants at the Kakinada Government Hospital, Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan of the Hyderabad High Court felt it was appropriate to look into the possibility of pre-natal and postpartum challenges to the foetus and newborns, a matter that would fall under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The Chief Justice was responding to a report filed by the III additional district judge of East Godavari pertaining to bodies of 80 infants that were rotting in the Kakinada hospital. The Chief Justice had sought the report and, after examining, directed the registry to take up the issue as a public interest litigation.

The Chief Justice noted that the report tended to indicate that a deeper look was called for in relation to pre-natal care, due management of deliveries, infant mortality, neonatology management and other issues in the hospital in question as well in other hospitals.

Justice Radhakrishnan also noted: “The data furnished as part of the report shows that 20-25 infant deaths takes place per week and this appears to be more than high in relation to term babies which in the absence of gross congenital anomalies are capable of survival, if well managed.”

The CJ felt that anaemia, low birthweight, uncared-for pregnancies and quality of obstetrics management may call for requisite appraisal by experts and those ordained to regulate the sectors. Justice Radhakrishnan was of the opinion that another aspect which may require further examination is the modality of dealing with bodies of infants and stillborn cases. He felt the requirement or otherwise to conduct postmortem of all unclaimed bodies of infants appeared to be relevant for consideration since the reason for the foetus being dead or of the infant dying may be relevant for a larger look at various other issues..