Premature baby's body mistakenly handed to another family

DG Khan hospital mix-up prompts police probe after grieving family fails to find newborn's body

A bizarre mix-up at the Children's Ward of Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital has led to the body of a premature newborn being mistakenly handed over to the father of another baby. The deceased child's family has demanded police intervention after they were unable to find the body.

The family and hospital officials said a seven-month premature baby died shortly after birth on August 8 after being shifted to the nursery in critical condition.

Despite efforts by doctors, the newborn could not survive.

The body was subsequently handed over to a man who reportedly identified himself as the deceased child's relative. However, when the baby's grandfather, Bashir Ahmed, arrived at the hospital and asked for the body, the family was informed that it had already been taken away.

It later emerged that the man who had received the body was neither the deceased baby's father nor maternal uncle.

He was the father of another premature baby who was receiving treatment at the same hospital.

According to the hospital administration, the man mistakenly believed that the deceased newborn was his child after hospital staff and doctors informed him that his baby had died and handed over the body.

The matter came to light when the deceased child's family arrived to receive the body. Bashir Ahmed subsequently submitted an application to the Civil Lines police station, seeking action and recovery of the body.

According to the application, a woman identified as Zubina Rehman, a resident of Masha Allah Town, had been brought to Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital on August 8 for delivery.

She gave birth to a premature baby at around seven months of gestation.

Due to the newborn's critical condition, the baby was shifted to the nursery but died despite medical treatment.

Following the family's complaint, the hospital administration reviewed CCTV footage and available records and informed the police about the incident.

Civil Lines SHO Zeeshan Mastoi launched an investigation with the help of Safe City cameras and other available evidence to trace the person who had taken the body.

The hospital administration said the man had been at the hospital because his own premature child was undergoing treatment.

Due to the apparent misunderstanding, he mistakenly believed that the deceased baby was his own and took the body with him.

Hospital officials said subsequent verification established that the man's own child was alive and still receiving treatment at the hospital, while the baby who had died belonged to another family.

The administration handed over CCTV footage and relevant records to the police and assured the authorities of full cooperation in the investigation.

A police team has reportedly been dispatched to recover the body and hand it over to the deceased newborn's family.