The body of a newborn whose death on Tuesday triggered a controversy with relatives accusing medical negligence was exhumed on Wednesday here and later handed over to relatives after a post-mortem.
The post-mortem was conducted as part of the enquiry into the baby's death by a five-member panel, headed by District Medical Officer K.M. Sirabudin. The baby, born to Anil and Manju of the Nehru Trophy Ward here, died at 6.20 a.m. on Tuesday at the Vandanam Medical College Hospital after being rushed there following umbilical cord complications during delivery at the Government Women and Child Hospital near the Alappuzha Beach.
Dr. Sirabudin, who submitted his report to the government on Wednesday, recommended for a high-level expert probe into the incident since the five-member panel had no experts in it and moreover, could not find any prima facie evidence of medical negligence.
The DMO has asked Binu Thomas, the doctor who handled the delivery, to proceed on leave pending enquiry.
The relatives of the baby have lodged a complaint with District Superintendent of Police A. Akbar.
Another newborn dies
Meanwhile, a similar incident was reported from a private hospital in Kayamkulam, where the death of a newborn sparked off a controversy with the parents and relatives of the baby alleging that no doctors attended to the delivery, despite frantic calls from the hospital.
They alleged that an attendant at the hospital and nurses handled the Caesarean operation, soon after which the baby died.
The baby was born to Ratheesh and Sandhya, who was admitted to the hospital on Monday due to excessive bleeding though she was only six months into her pregnancy. Following the death of the baby, relatives created a commotion in the hospital and the police had to arrive to bring the situation under control. A case has been registered against the hospital based on the statement given by Ratheesh.
