Refusal to admit act repeated, baby dies
Source: The Sangai Express

CCpur, August 07 2020: After a-five-day old baby passed away following the alleged refusal of the hospital to admit him and instead asking the family members to bring him back the next day angry family members and the villagers took out a rally and marched towards the district hospital leading to a brief standoff with the police.

The baby boy from Dorcas Veng, New Lamka, according to the family, was taken to a doctor in their locality at about 5 pm yesterday.

On the doctor's advice the baby was taken to the district hospital at about 6.30 pm but was told to return today.

Refusal to admit act repeated, baby dies

Following the death of the infant and the angry outbursts from the people, the Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur has constituted a committee to probe whether there was any misconduct on the part of the officials of the district hospital and and to submit its report on or before August 17 .

The family and villagers who marched towards the hospital in the evening, demanding action against the doctor and nurses on duty, claimed that depsite the doctor who referred them to the hospital advising hospitalisation, the baby was not physically attended to by the doctor on duty and was not admitted.

They alleged that the baby succumbed to his ailment at about 8.30 pm and was laid to rest last night itself.

With the tale of the baby's parents Lamlawmpiak and Ngainunfel circulating widely in social media, the locals of Dorcas Veng gathered in the afternoon and held a protest march towards the hospital.

A brief stand off with the police ensued after which the protesters demanded the Medical Superintendent to meet them personally and initiate action against the staff on duty.

With the medical officials, including the MS and CMO along with the SDO Churachandpur addressing the protesters the standoff subsided with the authority concerned promising to initiate a follow up action on the memorandum submitted by the villagers.

The villagers in their memo demanded action against the officials on duty, ex-gratia to the family, and ensuring that no negligence or lapses in medical care similar to the one they faced occur in future.

They also demanded the district authority to tender unconditional apology to the family in tune with the tribal customary laws.