Newborns die at Lohia hosp, kin allege negligence

Kin of a newborn who died at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on Sunday alleged negligence and damaged hospital property in anger. Earlier, on Saturday night, another newborn died at the hospital and in that case too, family members alleged death due to negligence.

Soon after Kalyanpur resident Priya delivered her baby, her child’s condition deteriorated. At 9 am on Sunday, the newborn was shifted to the neonatal ICU, but did not survive. The family said there were no medical complaints at the time of birth and started protesting outside the neonatal ICU. The security guards convinced them to leave, saying that children admitted there were in serious condition. However, when the guards further asked them to leave, they broke the glass panes at the hospital’s entry. To control the situation, Dr ML Bhargava reached the spot, where the family narrated their ordeal to him.

In a separate incident, Mehmoodabad resident Sonali also lost her baby at the hospital. The baby’s condition deteriorated after birth and the medical staff referred the child to KGMU trauma centre, citing need for ventilator support. The family reached the trauma centre but could not find any assistance there. They returned to Lohia, where allegedly the staff delayed treatment.

Meanwhile, Dr Bhargava said, “There was no negligence in both cases. Priya’s baby was serious and we had informed the parents.”