In a disturbing incident of medical negligence, an 18-month-old child lost his life in Kerala’s Kannur on Friday (10th July) after being administered anaesthesia. The toddler named Devansh Shaurya was the only child of T Suraj and Vijisha, residents of Eramam-Kuttoor in Kannur.
Shourya had suffered a lip injury after falling while playing outside his home on 5th July. He was initially taken to the primary health centre in Mathamangalam and given first aid. He was later taken to the Baby Memorial Hospital in Payyannur, where his wound was stitched after administering anaesthesia. However, soon after the treatment, the baby lost consciousness and died later, around 9 pm. The child was born after 8 years of his parents’ marriage.
The family of the child has accused a doctor, Anjali Poduval, of the Baby Memorial Hospital of medical negligence. A case has been registered by Payannur Police against her under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The hospital has denied the allegations of medical negligence. In a statement, the hospital said that the baby suffered an unexpected cardiac arrest after the administration of anaesthesia. He was immediately put on a ventilator before being shifted to the Kannur branch of the hospital for advanced critical care. The hospital said that the anaesthesia was administered in an appropriate dosage. It claimed that complications can occur despite following all accepted treatment protocols. The hospital said that every possible effort was made to save the child’s life.
