The death of an infant in District hospital Sopore on August 11 has finally moved the health authorities who have finally constituted a probe panel to enquire into the circumstances that led to the death.

“Chief Medical Offices Baramulla has constituted a probe panel to enquire into the circumstances that led to the death of an infant in the District hospital Sopore on August 11,” Block Medical Officer, Sopore, Dr. Sami said.

“The higher authority, CMO has called for an enquiry to probe the matter,” he said.

Initially, the hospital authorities were unmoved and had said that they will look into the matter, but finally the Chief Medical Officer, Baramulla has constituted a panel to probe the matter of alleged negligence, asking the panel to submit its report with days.

“The panel has been directed to submit its report within 15 days, which will be followed by further action in accordance to the report,” Dr. Sami added.

The move is being seen as an initial step towards attaining justice in the alleged medical negligence case by the family of Mehraj-ud-Din Dar, hailing from Watlab, Sopore.

Dar who is the father of the infant, said that he is sure that the facts will come to the fore and justice will be delivered.

Pertinently, his new born baby died shortly after he was born.

“I am happy that a probe panel has been constituted to look into the matter. I have full confidence that the things will be recorded that actually led to the death of my new born baby,” he said.

BMO, Sopore however, had a very different story to tell. For him it was not a medical negligence, but fate. “It is up to God to kill or save somebody, doctors attending the patients didn’t had any personal grudge with the infant who was yet come to the world,” he said.

Mehraj  goes on saying that it was clear case of negligence, no matter what the hospital authorities will impress upon, “why was there then a wound on the head of my baby, what was that,” he asked, adding that they (doctors) did not handle the case well which resulted in the death of my infant.

Notably, protests had erupted at Sub-district hospital Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday (11 Aug) after a newborn had died due to alleged negligence of doctors.

 “My wife gave birth to a baby during a normal delivery. Doctors told me that the baby is safe, but asked me to shift him to GB Pant Hospital,” said Dar, adding that doctors at GB Panth told him that the baby may not live longer as he had severe injuries in his head, “Soon after some time, my baby died,” he said.

According to BMO, Sopore such things are normal and any such case should not be labeled as negligence, as it was not the one.

“You may call it negligence when there will be no doctor available to take care of patients, when medics will not attend to their duties, but there was no such thing in this case,” he said.

An FIR under number 237/17 has also been registered in police station Sopore, and the post mortem has been conducted to ascertain the causes that led to infant’s death.

According to BMO, Sopore, the post mortem report will take almost three months and only after that they can say anything, “the report can take around three months to come, as we will have to follow a set procedure,” he said.

Experts are, however, opine that in such cases it is to be made sure that the report is filed within a month as it involves a rigorous procedure, “it is to be made sure that the report is filed within a month, however, in rare cases it can take more than that,” an expert said.

Meanwhile, the family of Mehraj-ud-Din Dar has vowed to continue their struggle till justice is delivered to them.

When asked if they want to be compensated by the government, Dar said “I don’t want any compensation. I want action against those who are responsible for the death of my child.

Guest