Family protests newborn’s death at hospital

The protesters gathered outside the hospital, pelted rocks at the building, breaking windows and furniture.

FAISALABAD:

Relatives of an infant who died during birth at a private clinic on Thursday staged a protest demonstration against the doctor’s alleged negligence.

The protesters gathered outside the hospital, pelted rocks at the building, breaking windows and damaging furniture.Talking to newsmen, Ali Asghar, one of the protesters, said Hasan Mehmood, a resident of Abdullahpur Colony, took his wife to the hospital in Samanabad during her final term. He said doctors had told him that the mother and the child were in a critical condition and a surgery was needed to save their lives.

Asghar said a doctor had operated on the mother. He said the child had died during the surgery. He said the child had been born premature and should not have been birthed so early. The protesters chanted slogans against the doctor and demanded her arrest. A police team visited the scene and assured the protesters that the matter would be investigated and action would be taken against those responsible. The family dispersed on their assurance.

Health Executive District Officer (EDO) Rana Muhammad Waqar Sadiq told The Express Tribune that a committee had been formed to probe the matter. “If the child died due to the doctor’s negligence, action would be taken against her,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2015.