Infant dies at Bundi CHC, kin alleges medical negligence

Kota: The family of a six-month-old boy who died at a community health centre (CHC) in Dei town of Bundi district demonstrated outside the CHC on Monday morning, and alleged negligence by medical staff and demanding their suspension.
The family members said that the child died late Sunday evening at the CHC as he did not receive oxygen support due to a power cut and that an ambulance was not called in time.
District medical authorities refuted the allegations and formed a committee to investigate the complaint. Dr Yogesh Panwar, the medical officer in charge of the CHC, said the child was brought to the CHC around 6pm on Sunday in critical condition with high fever and breathing complications.
He said that the doctor on duty after primary medical care referred the baby to a higher medical care centre.
The baby was on Ambu bag respiratory support and died while he was being shifted to the ambulance, Dr Panwar said, adding that the ambulance was called in time.
Bundi CMHO Dr O P Samer also refuted allegations of negligence and disruption in oxygen supply, saying that the baby was on Ambu bag support and not on oxygen support that needed electricity. However, he said, he had formed a committee to probe into the matter and had himself visited the CHC on Monday to record statements of the family members and the medical staff.
DSP Shankar Lal Meena, the area’s circle officer, said that the family members were demanding action against the medical staff but they had been assured of a fair investigation into the matter.