A disturbing incident in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, has led to the tragic death of a two-day-old baby, with the family accusing hospital staff of negligence. The baby, born on January 27 to Radha Singh through a normal home delivery, was taken to the district hospital on January 28 after he stopped breastfeeding and appeared weak. Once admitted to the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU), doctors quickly declared his condition critical. He was referred to a higher facility in Lucknow, but his condition deteriorated during transport, and he passed away in the ambulance.
The family claims the baby's death was caused by the administration of expired glucose in the hospital. They allege that the IV bottle used in the treatment had an expiry date of May 2024. In response, the family filed a police report, and the baby’s body was sent for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
The incident sparked protests outside the district hospital, with local residents joining the family in demanding accountability. The grieving family brought the baby’s body, with the expired glucose bottle still attached to his hand, as part of their protest. Amid growing outrage, Pilibhit’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Alok Kumar, announced that an inquiry panel had been formed to investigate the situation. Two nurses from the hospital’s SNCU, Preeti Jaiswal and Pushpa Mishra, were suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
According to reports, the baby had been born in Khaprail Gautiya village on January 26 and was admitted to the hospital around 12:30 am on January 28. His father, Aman Singh, contended that the expired glucose worsened his son's health and contributed to his death. He presented a photo of the expired glucose bottle as evidence, showing its expiry date as May 2024.
Dr. Rajesh Kumar, the superintendent of the district hospital, confirmed that a thorough check of the hospital’s stock found no other expired medications. However, the investigation will seek to determine whether the glucose was expired at the time of purchase or if it expired while in storage. The police have also initiated an autopsy and will await its findings before proceeding with further legal action.
In a separate development, the CMO has urged the principal of the Autonomous State Medical College, Dr. Sangeeta Aneja, to take action against Dr. Ajay Bharti, the resident on duty at the time the expired glucose was administered. An inquiry led by SNCU’s nodal officer, Dr. Chhatra Pal, confirmed that expired glucose was used. The hospital had sourced the glucose from a local medical store, and the panel is now investigating whether it was expired when purchased or became outdated after storage.
The two suspended nurses will remain on hold until the final report is submitted, which is expected within a week. Additionally, a separate three-member panel, led by Dr. Ramakant Sagar, the chief medical superintendent of the district men's hospital, is also investigating the case, with findings expected soon. The autopsy report did not provide a clear cause of death, and the baby’s viscera has been preserved for further forensic testing.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Sai Sindhuja K/MSM)
