An 18-month-old boy, who remained in critical condition for five days after being sedated to stitch up a cut lip, died at a private hospital in Kannur on Friday, July 10.
Devansh Shaurya, who died at Baby Memorial Hospital in Kannur, was the only child of T Suraj and Vijaysha of Mathamangalam in Ermam Kotur grama panchayat. He was born eight years after their marriage.
Devansh injured his lip after falling while playing in his yard on July 5. His parents took him to Baby Memorial Hospital in Payyannur, where doctors anesthetized the wound to stitch it up. Soon after, his condition became critical, and he never regained consciousness. The hospital later transferred him to the Kannur unit for advanced treatment, where he died around 9 pm on Friday.
Earlier in the day, Payannur police registered a case against Dr Anjali Poduval, an anesthetist at Baby Memorial Hospital, Payannur, based on a complaint filed by the child’s relative, K. Rajeevan is from Kuthirumal House in Ermam.
The doctor has been booked under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act, which deals with acts endangering life or personal safety and carries a maximum punishment of three months’ imprisonment.
Baby Memorial Hospital denied the allegations of medical negligence. In a previous statement, the hospital said that the child suffered an unexpected cardiac arrest immediately after being anesthetized, and was immediately placed on a ventilator before being transferred to Kannur Hospital for advanced critical care.
The hospital confirmed that complications may occur after anesthesia despite the dose and proper medical care, and said that all accepted treatment protocols were followed, adding that every effort was made to save the child’s life.
Meanwhile, workers of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) staged a protest march to the Baby Memorial Hospital in Payannur, demanding action in connection with the death of the little boy.
