Medical negligence kills 2-month old baby

Kothagudem: In a case of alleged medical negligence, a two-month old baby died of respiratory and other problems at the Area Hospital here on Thursday. The baby was identified as the daughter of Thota Lakshmi of Purushottapatnam in Etapaka mandal of East Godavari district.

The baby was first treated at the neonatal care centre here. When the parents requested the doctors for discharge as the baby’s condition improved, the doctors advised keeping the baby under medical observation for the night. The baby’s condition worsened in the early hours of Thursday. The baby was referred to the Area Hospital.

When the paediatrician requested the staff members for the case-sheet, the staff told him that the admission was not recorded. Baby’s grandmother attributes the death to medical negligence by the Area Hospital. The relatives of the baby submitted a memorandum to the hospital superintendent Dr Koti Reddy for disciplinary action against the medical staff for negligence.

Later speaking to media, he said that Thota Lakshmi delivered the baby in the Area Hospital. As per the rules of the neonatal care center, babies below the age of one month are treated there. When the baby has developed acute bronchitis, he clarified that the Area Hospital doctors and staff treated the baby. However, the complaint of the relatives would be forwarded to higher authorities. Thota Lakshmi plunged in deep sorrow and is under a state of shock due to loss of the child.