Tragedy: Eight infants die in Vehari hospital; medical negligence suspected

Punjab CM orders inquiry as families, doctors squabble over cause

VEHARI:

At least 8 infants died at the District Headquarters Hospital here on Tuesday under questionable circumstances, Express News reported.

The broadcaster cited hospital staff as saying that malfunctioning ventilators and lack of oxygen supply at the hospital’s children’s complex were the probable causes of the deaths.

However, relatives of the deceased infants have blamed the fatalities on medical negligence. Hospital staff and police officials say only four infants died due to lack of oxygen.

The children passed away in the morning and DCO Vehari Jawad Akram told The Express Tribune that official records have proven that medical negligence is to blame. “I have checked all records and only four children died due to the suspension of oxygen,” he said. Dr Maqbool Ahmed, in charge of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), concurred, saying four children – three male and one female – have died due to malfunctioning ventilators.

Protesting against doctors and paramedical staff outside the hospital, family members of the deceased alleged that the hospital staff was “on their cellphones all night”, leaving patients unattended for hours. An estimated 13 under-weight infants were in the ICU at the time, sources in the hospital said.

It has also been reported that Dr Ahmed and the nurse on duty, Sumaira Johnson, have been suspended following the incident. Sources within the hospital said on the condition of anonymity that the doctor and nurse were asleep when the oxygen supply ran out to the incubators.

An inquiry committee has been formed, according to Medical Superintendent Doctor Muhammed Ashraf, to investigate the matter. EDO Health Vehari Dr Afzal Bashir will head the committee and submit a report to DCO Vehari in 24 hours. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif requested a full report to be filed by Tuesday evening.

Funeral prayers were offered on Tuesday for the deceased children before they were buried. Provincial adviser to the chief minister on health paid a visit to the families, promising that justice would be given in 48 hours.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2014.