Lucknow: A 3-year-old girl died in Uttar Pradesh after doctors of a private hospital — who performed abdominal surgery on her — allegedly handed over the child to her family without stitching up the wounds as her parents failed to clear the dues.
The girl’s family, residents of Kaushambi, admitted her to United Medicity Hospital in Prayagraj on 15 February after she complained of abdominal pain.
They alleged the hospital demanded Rs 5 lakh to conduct a surgery, of which they paid Rs 2 lakh and sought more time to clear the dues. The hospital, however, allegedly handed the girl over to her family without doing proper stitches as the family didn’t pay the remaining amount.
The hospital has, however, denied all the allegations, terming it as “baseless”.
The girl’s uncle Suraj Mishra told ThePrint, “The hospital admitted her and then discharged her after a week, but she still remained unwell so we took her to the same hospital again (on 21 February).”
“They performed an abdominal surgery on her (on 24 February) and the hospital wanted Rs 5 lakh for the operation. We submitted Rs 2 lakh and wanted some more time to clear the dues, but they handed her over to us (on 25 February) without even giving stitches after we failed to clear the dues,” he alleged.
Mishra said they admitted the minor to another private hospital on 26 February to stitch up her wounds, but the doctors there asked them to take her to United Medicity. Following this, the parents took the child to United Medicity on 3 March but they allegedly refused to admit the child.
A girl’s relative, who didn’t want to be named, told ThePrint she died at home in the evening of 4 March.
“We protested at the gate of the hospital (on 5 March). We have also submitted our complaint to the police station and spoke to the Prayagraj district magistrate, we want action against the hospital,” he added.
Kaushambi Police Saturday lodged an FIR against one of the hospital doctors, Ankit Gupta, based on the parents’ complaint.
Also read: Over 8.8 lakh deaths — India on top in UNICEF report on under-5 child mortality in 2018
NCPCR, DM take cognisance
Meanwhile, Prayagraj District Magistrate Bhanu Chandra Goswami has constituted a two-member investigation committee — comprising the chief medical officer and additional district magistrate — after taking cognisance of a social media post about the girl’s death.
दर्दनाक है।शर्मनाक है।
यूपी के प्रयागराज में 3 साल की खुशी को पेट दर्द के बाद यूनाइटेड मेडीसिटी हॉस्पिटल में भर्ती कराया गया।डॉक्टरों ने ऑपरेशन किया,परिवार ने खेत बेचकर 2लाख दिए।5 लाख की डिमांड हुई।परिवार ना दे सका।निर्दयी अस्पताल ने बिना टांका लगाए फटे पेट के साथ उसे निकाल दिया pic.twitter.com/uK2tYDQu6Y
— Abhinav Pandey (@Abhinav_Pan) March 5, 2021
“A detailed probe has been ordered after taking cognisance of the social media post that a minor girl was ousted from the private hospital with an open abdomen. It is a serious matter and we are trying to find out all details related to the girl’s death,” said a statement issued by the DM Saturday.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has also taken cognisance of the matter and has written to the Prayagraj collector, recommending action against the hospital.
‘Did not hand over the minor with open cuts’
The hospital, meanwhile, said the family only paid Rs 6,370 as against the bill amount of Rs 1.25 lakh.
“The minor had a problem of acute intestinal obstruction. We did an operation on 24 February and then on 3 March, we referred her to the child specialist department of Swaroop Rani Nehru hospital where she died,” the official PRO of the United Group, the parent group managing the United Medicity Hospital, told ThePrint in a statement.
“The bill was to the tune of a total Rs 1.25 lakh, but the (girl’s) parents submitted Rs 6,370. We have all the receipts and documents. We did not hand over the minor with open cuts, families allegations are baseless,” the PRO added.
Meanwhile, NCPCR has asked the district collector to initiate an inquiry into the case, lodge an FIR under relevant IPC sections and recommend strict action against doctors and staff concerned.
It has also demanded that the deceased child’s family be provided with compensation. It has further asked for a factual action taken report within 24 hours.
NCPCR asks Dist Collector to conduct inquiry into the case, lodge FIR under relevant IPC sections & recommend strict action against doctors & staff. It also asks that deceased child's family be provided compensation. It has also asked for factual action taken report within 24 hrs
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 6, 2021
Also read: At Kota hospital, 100 deaths in a month not a first — 1,100 kids died every year since 2014
3-year-old dies after UP hospital ‘discharges her without stitches for not clearing dues’
The article has been written without any proof. Write with proof of receipts. Already doctors are looked upon horribly and as criminals.
Any competent forensic pathologist would be able to determine the actual cause of the poor child’s demise, and whether the parents accusations are sustainable or not, and whether there were any errors and omissions or professional misconduct by the hospital and staff.
One should see both sides of a story before coming to a decision but Private hospitals in this country have a reputation…and for most, it’s not a very good one. The problem is that there is no will, either by the professional bodies nor govt, to investigate and prosecute such gross misconduct…so egregious situations like this will continue, unabated.
There are lot of ways to earn money, don’t choose medical profession if you lack compassion.
Such a despicable shameful incidence in UP reported by the Print. Guess it is so routine that it just needs a bland reporting. Sheesh.