Death of newborn: Relatives protest against ‘negligent’ doctors

Hospital management spurns allegation of carelessness.

RAWALPINDI:

Parents and relatives of a 12-day-old baby, who died on Friday at the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) allegedly because of doctors’ negligence, protested outside the hospital by placing the body on the road.

They chanted slogans against medical superintendent (MS) and head of gynaecology unit and demanded of the chief minister Punjab to take note of the incident. The protesters also blocked the road causing trouble for motorists and pedestrians.

The HFH administration called in the police, which finally dispersed the protesters.

The hospital management brushed off the allegation of negligence on the part of the doctors.

Sheikh Adil’s wife gave birth to a premature baby on June 16, and it was kept in an incubator till June 22. The baby was again admitted to the hospital on June 25.

AMS Admin Dr Tariq Niazi said the baby was premature and it was under observation and doctors tried their best to save the life of the child. “The prime duty of doctors is to attend to patients and they do not settle scores with anyone. It has become a norm that parents or attendants blame doctors after such incidents,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2013.