West Bengal: 18 babies die at govt hospital, WB CM orders probe

[Ronan Kelly]

12 babies die at govt hospital, WB CM orders probe
Kolkata, Jun 30 (PTI)

Twelve babies died at a state-run hospital here, triggering protests by locals and relatives, which prompted the West Bengal government to order an enquiry into it.


Superintendent of B C Roy Hospital for Children, D Pal told PTI that most of the 12 babies were either pre-mature or suffering from septicemia or low-birth weight problems. The medical institute is considered to be the largest referral paediatric hospital in the eastern region.

"Most of these babies were brought in a moribund stage," he said. However, unconfirmed sources said 17 babies died at the hospital in the last 48 hours.

"I have come to know that the babies were brought to the hospital at the last stage and that the cause of death was not enteric disease. I have ordered a probe and asked the authorities to submit a report to me," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who also holds the health portfolio, told reporters here.

Aggrieved over the deaths, family members and locals barged into the main building of the hospital alleging medical negligence, police said. The agitators also blocked the hospital road and were later chased away by policemen.

The superintendent also said, "There were some disturbances in the hospital compound in the morning, but the situation is normal now." Earlier in September 2002, there were protests in the same hospital when 14 children died of broncho-pneumonia and gastro-enteritis.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/172678/12-babies-die-govt-hospital.html

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: West Bengal: 12 babies die at govt hospital, WB CM orders probe

Re: West Bengal: 12 babies die at govt hospital, WB CM orders probe

Protest over childrens? deaths
Posted on 30 June 2011 by GGS News

Kolkata,(GGS NEWS) 30 June 2011 :- Around 250 to 300 agitators gathered in front of the gates of a state-run paediatric hospital today to protest over the death of three children, policesaid.

The children died last night in the B C Roy Hospital for Children, they said, adding the road on which the hospital is located was closed to traffic for about 45 minutes due to the agitation.

Hospital officials could not be contacted to ascertain the cause of deaths.

In September 2002, 14 children, including a two-month-old baby, had died in the hospital due to broncho-pneumonia and gastro-enteritis, triggering massive protest over alleged negligence by hospital authorities

http://www.ggsnews.com/23654/india-news-updates/protest-over-childrens-deaths

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: West Bengal: 12 babies die at govt hospital, WB CM orders probe

Re: West Bengal: 12 babies die at govt hospital, WB CM orders probe

Five babies die in govt hospital, Mamata orders inquiry
30/06/2011 11:16:00 MP Midday Editor
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Five babies have died at a State-run government hospital here triggering protests by locals and relatives, which prompted the West Bengal government to order an inquiry into it.

Police rushed to the B.C. Roy Hospital for Children and dispersed around 300 angry demonstrators who gathered in front of the gates of the hospital and blocked traffic for about an hour, hospital officials said.

Police said three children died last night and two today at the hospital, the largest referral hospital for children in the eastern region.

The cause of deaths could not be ascertained as yet.

Asked to comment on the incident, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said as per information available with her, these children were admitted to hospital ?at the last stage? and that they did not die of enteric disease.

?I have ordered an inquiry into the incident and asked the authorities to give me a report,? she said.
http://www.mpmidday.com/india/17845.html

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: West Bengal: 12 babies die at govt hospital, WB CM orders probe

Re: West Bengal: 12 babies die at govt hospital, WB CM orders probe

18 babies dead at one hospital in 36 hours
NDTV Correspondent, Updated: June 30, 2011 20:45 IST

Kolkata: A shocking case of 18 infant deaths has come to light from Kolkata's BC Roy Hospital. And that too, in less than two days.

The figure was released by the Chief Minister's office today.

The tragedy at BC Roy Hospital may have gone unnoticed but for the death of nine-month-old Aryan Gazi this morning. Angry relatives trashed the hospital and attacked doctors who they say were negligent.

"I begged the doctors to help my son, I fell at his feet. But the doctors didn't listen. I was crying... my son died," said Hannan Gazi, Aryan's father.


The doctors, however, deny allegations that there has been negligence on the hospital's part.

The Superintendent of the B C Roy Hospital, D Pal told PTI the babies who had died were either pre-mature or suffering from septicemia or low-birth weight problems. The medical institute is considered to be the largest referral paediatric hospital in the eastern region.

...



Read more at: http://origin-netmg.ndtv.com/articl...ne-hospital-in-36-hours-115888?trendingnow&cp

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: West Bengal: 12 babies die at govt hospital, WB CM orders probe

Re: West Bengal: 12 babies die at govt hospital, WB CM orders probe

18 children die in Kolkata hospital, Mamata orders probe
Kolkata, June 30 (IANS)

At least 18 children have died of various causes in a state-run hospital in Kolkata since Wednesday, a hospital official said Thursday. Relatives of the dead children have alleged negligence on the part of doctors.


"Twelve children died Wednesday. Six died today (Thursday)," B.C. Roy Children's Hospital principal Mrinal Kanti Chatterjee told IANS over phone. Chatterjee said all the patients, aged between a few days and a few months, were admitted in critical condition to the hospital.

"These children were mostly underweight, some of them had septicaemia and breathing problems," said a hospital official. Wailing and angry parents and relatives of the victims ransacked a portion of the hospital. A large police contingent was later posted at the hospital by the authorities.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has set up a committee to enquire into the deaths and said the guilty would not be spared. She confirmed 12 deaths till Wednesday night.

"I don't have the reports but till now 12 children have died. A committee has been formed to inquire into the matter. Those found guilty will not be spared," said Banerjee at the state secretariat. "I have called the head of department (of the hospital) and asked him to file a report explaining the deaths of so many children. It's a very unfortunate happening. Anybody found guilty will be given exemplary punishment," said Banerjee.

She also blamed the erstwhile Left Front regime of neglecting the medical infrastructure. "There is no medical infrastructure. Incidents like this have happened earlier also. But the infrastructure cannot be overhauled so quickly. There are procedures to follow for procurement of new machines which are time consuming." However, she assured that her government has chalked up short and mid-term plans to revamp the medical infrastructure.


http://www.deccanherald.com/content/172678/18-children-die-kolkata-hospital.html

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: West Bengal: 18 babies die at govt hospital, WB CM orders probe

Death of 19 children in Kolkata hospital triggers protest
Staff Reporter

Families charge hospital staff with negligence; Mamata orders probe, promises action

The death of 19 children, most of them infants, within a period of 48 hours in the State-run Dr. B.C. Roy Postgraduate Institute of Paediatric Science here triggered protests and agitations amid allegations of negligence and misbehaviour on the part of the staff on Thursday. Distraught parents and family members broke down, some of them barging into the premises of the hospital with allegations of negligence and misbehaviour. Members of the hospital staff were heckled amid the confusion and shouting. The agitators also held up traffic on the road outside, before the police were brought in to bring the situation under control.

Hospital authorities claimed that the complaints received were mainly about the behaviour of the staff and not of negligence. Every child brought to the hospital had received treatment, they claimed.

While an internal enquiry into the incident has been ordered by the hospital authorities, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who herself holds additional charge of the Health portfolio, has ordered an enquiry, promising that action will be taken ?from top to bottom if any negligence has occurred.?

?The committee will submit its report to me in 24 hours. It will comprise external doctors so that the true facts about the incident cannot be suppressed,? Ms. Banerjee said.

By evening, Ms. Banerjee informed journalists at the State Secretariat that several of the infants had severe stomach ailments; two of the children died of a congenital heart disease. She also said that eight of the 12 children who died on Wednesday were under-weight.

The 350-bed hospital is a tertiary health facility and often children are brought here at a very late stage. On average between five and six children die every day, she said.

?However, the matter has to be taken seriously,? she added. Hospital authorities clarified that a large number of children who came to the hospital were referred from other cities.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article2147311.ece

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: West Bengal: 18 babies die at govt hospital, WB CM orders probe

Uneasy calm in Bengal's biggest paediatric hospital

Fri, Jul 1 2011 0:00 IST | Kolkata, June 30
An uneasy calm prevailed Thursday evening at the B.C. Roy Children's hospital here, which till late afternoon witnessed chaos and violence following the death of at least 18 infants in less than two days due to various causes.

The unfortunate parents had left the hospital after authorities released the bodies of their babies. Only a cluster of relatives of the other admitted child patients, some media persons and police personnel could be found.

The death of at least 50 children in the hospital in past 10 days has left the authorities red faced after protests from the victim's relatives and political parties alleging medical negligence on their part for the deaths.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already sought a detailed report from the state health secretary and set up a committee to probe into the death of the children.

The hospital principal, superintendent and other senior doctors were found busy holding meetings and preparing reports. Two members of the inquiry committee visited the hospital late evening and spoke to the authorities.

However, the relatives of the children undergoing treatment in the hospital alleged that even after the series of children deaths, the medical facilities have not improved while the doctors and other staffs continue to be uncooperative.

"My seven-year-old nephew has been undergoing treatment since past seven days. He was an epilepsy patient but his situation has not improved a little and now the authorities are requesting us to take him back," said Sushanta Das of Sandeshkhali in South 24 Pargana district.

He also alleged that even after repeated attempts they have failed to meet the attending doctor.

Birbhum resident Bapi Laha, whose daughter has been undergoing treatment since Tuesday, also complained of the same, saying dearth of doctors and nurses was a major concern.

"The hospital is considered to be the largest referral paediatric hospital in the eastern region with a huge inflow of patients throughout the year. There are only 60 out of 360 beds reserved for paediatric cases while the rest are general and paying beds.

http://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a231420.html

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: West Bengal: 18 babies die at govt hospital, WB CM orders probe

18 children die at govt hospital in Kolkata; probe ordered
Subhrangshu Gupta/TNS

Kolkata, June 30
The death of 18 children, including some newborns, at the state-run Dr BC Roy Government Hospital for Children, Fulbagan, in east Kolkata today triggered protests by residents, prompting the state government to order an inquiry into the incident.

The children, suffering from high fever, were brought to the hospital from different parts of Kolkata over the past 48 hours. However, they died one after another before the doctors could diagnose the disease.

Several bereaved patients alleged the doctors did not attend to the patients for several hours. They also alleged that the patients were given wrong medicine without ascertaining the actual disease, resulting in such a large number of deaths.

The aggrieved patients, their relatives and other people staged demonstrations on the hospital premises, demanding criminal action against doctors and nurses who did not take necessary steps in time for the children?s treatment. They also demanded the resignation of the hospital superintendent.

Some doctors admitted that they could not properly treat the children as their blood and other pathological test reports were not immediately available. They suspected the deaths could be due to encephalitis.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who also looks after the Health Department, has denied that the deaths were due to encephalitis. The symptoms indicated that the children had been the victims of large-scale viral infections, she said.

She ordered a high-level inquiry for ascertaining the cause of such a large number of deaths. The report would be available within next 48 hours, she said.

Describing the incident as shocking and surprising, she said during the previous Left Front rule, there were several incidents of children?s death at the hospital due to improper medical arrangements, but nothing was done to upgrade the hospital. However, now her government would take up various development schemes at the hospital to upgrade it to the international level, she said.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110701/main4.htm

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: West Bengal: 18 babies die at govt hospital, WB CM orders probe

Baby braves river, loses battle for life
A STAFF REPORTER

Hanan Gazi had crossed a river in spate and travelled over 100km by road to give nine-month-old son Aryan what he thought was his best chance of survival.

At 7.15 on Thursday morning, within nine hours of Aryan being admitted to the neo-natal ward of the BC Roy Post Graduate Institute of Paediatric Sciences, came the dreaded news. Sunderbans resident Hanan had brought his infant son for treatment ?too late?, the hospital said.

Aryan had had convulsions and high fever for three days. His father, who rolls bidis for a living, had taken him to the ill-equipped Laukhali primary health centre, where the lone doctor said there was little he could do to save the boy. ?Take him to Calcutta fast,? he said.

Hanan felt a shiver down his spine but didn?t give up hope.

?Our son will survive,? he assured wife Momena, who wrapped Aryan in two layers of soft cloth and held him close to her chest as she and her husband set off for the city from their village in Sandeshkhali block on a rainy Wednesday afternoon.

The family reached the Phoolbagan hospital at 11pm, by which time the corridors were already echoing with the wails of parents shattered by bad news coming in every few hours.

Hanan and Momena shut their ears to what was happening around them. Their little one would make it, the couple told themselves.

By morning, the only thing that remained for the couple to tell themselves was how ?cursed? their son was to be born to poor parents in a Sunderbans village. ?Our son would have survived had he been born elsewhere,? Hanan cried.

Barely 50 metres from where he was standing, another family was in mourning. Shyamoli Ghosh?s elder sister Shraboni had given premature birth to a girl in a primary health centre at Khanakul, near Arambagh in Hooghly, on Tuesday.

The resident doctor told the parents that their baby had developed jaundice and would require medical treatment in a Calcutta hospital. ?He suggested the BC Roy hospital. We did as he advised but the baby was declared dead within two hours of admission,? said Shyamoli, whose sister is still recuperating at the primary health centre.

?It is that time of the year when infant casualties shoot up because of a combination of factors. The weather gets them sick and lack of health care in the interiors means most of them are in a highly critical condition when they reach us,? hospital superintendent D.K. Pal said of the crib-death count of 17 in 36 hours.

Hanan?s elder brother Manan blamed the Laukhali facility for his nephew?s death. ?Shudhu naam-er hospital?. kono chikitsa hoy na (it?s a hospital only in name?. nobody receives treatment),? Manan said.

The health centre caters to a population of over 3,000 with just one doctor and a midwife. ?They do not have a special unit for small children, although there are at least 300 children below the age of 5 in the area. The five beds do not even have linen,? Manan said.

BC Roy hospital takes in 45 to 50 children every day, 95 per cent of them being patients referred by public health centres in the districts.

This is not the first time so many deaths have occurred at the hospital in such a short span.

In September 2002, 18 babies had died in barely three days. In November 2006, 22 crib deaths were reported in less than 72 hours.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110701/jsp/calcutta/story_14180933.jsp

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: West Bengal: 18 babies die at govt hospital, WB CM orders probe

..Death of babies in state hospital: Doctors keeping close watch
PTI ? 2 hours 48 minutes ago
....tweet0EmailPrint......Kolkata, July 1 (PTI) Doctors were today keeping a close watch on the condition of children at a premier state-run hospital where 18 babies died in the last two days triggering large-scale protests and demonstrations.

"We are keeping a tab on the situation. Generally, one to four babies die at the hospital regularly as many of them are brought in very serious condition," hospital sources said.

"There has been no death since last night", they said.

The high number of deaths since Tuesday was due to a large number of critical children brought to the hospital from remote places including flood-affected areas, the sources said.

A report would be submitted to the Director of Medical Education by the hospital authorities, apart from the two-member inquiry committee appointed by the West Bengal government which is investigating the deaths of 18 babies in 48 hours.

Dr B C Roy Children''s Hospital is the largest paediatric referral hospital in the eastern region.

Following the deaths of the babies, aggrieved family members and local people forcibly entered the hospital''s main building yesterday and blocked the road in front of the facility.
...
http://in.news.yahoo.com/death-babies-state-hospital-doctors-keeping-close-watch-081600343.html

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: West Bengal: 18 babies die at govt hospital, WB CM orders probe

No medical negligence in death of 18 babies: Inquiry report
Published on July 2, 2011 by admin
News4u ? News Desk : There was no medical negligence in the death of 18 babies at the state-run B C Roy Children?s Hospital in Kolkata but the infrastructure was not up to the mark, a probe panel has said.

?No medical negligence or human lapse was found on inquiry,? Health Secretary M N Roy told reporters on Friday at Swasthya Bhavan after the government probed the deaths at the eastern region?s largest paediatric referral hospital.

Noting that most of the babies were brought to the hospital in a ?very critical condition?, he said 13 of those who died had respiratory trouble and four low birth weight.

...

http://news4u.co.in/2011/07/no-medical-negligence-in-death-of-18-babies-inquiry-report/