NHRC asks for comments from Chief Secretary, West Bengal on the death of 17 infants in 48 Hrs in a north Kolkata Hospital
New Delhi November, 15th 2006
NHRC has asked for comments from Chief Secretary, West Bengal on the death of 17 infants in 48 Hrs. in a north- Kolkata Hospital. Taking suo-motu cognizance of a newspaper report which said that a section of the doctors at the B.C.Roy Children Hospital tried to pass off the deaths as mere co-incidents, the Commission said the deaths were a grim reminder of the hospital record of a similar tragedy in the past. The Times of India report had said, that the enquiry showed that the spurt in such deaths were related to sudden rush of baby admissions in the hospital suffering from varied critical ailments. The situation was compounded due to lack of infrastructure and proper care. According to the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital the deaths occurred in the neo-natal ward. Most of the babies were new born and under weight and died due to Septicemia.
The newspaper report also refers to complaints by relatives about refusal of admission and denial of care as well as lack of facilities and equipments in the hospital, even though the hospital is the State's only pediatrics referral center.
The Commission had on an earlier occasion in 2002, dealt with a similar issue pursuant to newspaper reports and had taken note of certain short-term and long-term measures adopted by the State Government to prevent such deaths. The recent deaths have raised serious doubts about the implementation of the measures reportedly undertaken, the Commission observed. It has asked that a copy of the press report be transmitted to the Chief Secretary, West Bengal, for his comments within four weeks.
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NHRC has asked for comments from Chief Secretary, West Bengal on the death of 17 infants in 48 Hrs. in a north- Kolkata Hospital. Taking suo-motu cognizance of a newspaper report which said that a section of the doctors at the B.C.Roy Children Hospital tried to pass off the deaths as mere co-incidents, the Commission said the deaths were a grim reminder of the hospital record of a similar tragedy in the past. The Times of India report had said, that the enquiry showed that the spurt in such deaths were related to sudden rush of baby admissions in the hospital suffering from varied critical ailments. The situation was compounded due to lack of infrastructure and proper care. According to the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital the deaths occurred in the neo-natal ward. Most of the babies were new born and under weight and died due to Septicemia.
The newspaper report also refers to complaints by relatives about refusal of admission and denial of care as well as lack of facilities and equipments in the hospital, even though the hospital is the State's only pediatrics referral center.
The Commission had on an earlier occasion in 2002, dealt with a similar issue pursuant to newspaper reports and had taken note of certain short-term and long-term measures adopted by the State Government to prevent such deaths. The recent deaths have raised serious doubts about the implementation of the measures reportedly undertaken, the Commission observed. It has asked that a copy of the press report be transmitted to the Chief Secretary, West Bengal, for his comments within four weeks.
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