Newborn spends hours in the open after its mother dies in Kalaburagi District Hospital

A heart-wrenching incident unfolded at the District Hospital attached to the Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Kalaburagi on Tuesday where a newborn had to spend hours with its grandmother in an open area after its mother died and the hospital staff asked the relatives to take the baby away.

The baby was later admitted only after media persons questioned the insensitiveness of the hospital staff.

Bhagyashree Shivaji, who was delivered of the baby boy in the morning at a government health facility in Afzalpur, was brought to the District Hospital in Kalaburagi by 11 a.m. after she developped complications owing to excessive bleeding.

Later, when she died, the newborn was then handed over to the grandmother.

“The hospital staff asked us to take the baby home saying that the baby is healthy. They said that the baby didn’t require medical attention. They provided no medical assistance or guidance for caring for the newborn,” the grandmother told media.

Upon seeing the grandmother sitting in the open with the newborn covered in her sari on the hospital premises, onlookers advised her to take the baby inside for medical attention.

When mediapersons contacted the District Surgeon and the District Health and Family Welfare Officer, they said that the baby is receiving treatment in the ICU, though the baby was indeed with its grandmother in the open area on the hospital premises.

As the news spread, the hospital staff rushed to the grandmother and admitted the newborn for medical care.

Then, the hospital authorities said that the family initially refused medical attention for the baby.

Meanwhile, the District Health and Family Welfare Officer said that action will be taken against the hospital staff for delaying admission of the baby.

Published - December 17, 2024 09:29 pm IST