News Tamil Nadu

Dravidian Model Healthcare: Tirupattur Govt Hospital Gives Body Of Dead Child In A Big Shopper Bag, Few Other Instances That Exposes Plight Of Govt

November 18, 2024
The Commune

Another tragic incident occurred at Tirupattur Government Hospital, where a newborn baby, just four days old, passed away despite appearing healthy. The child’s grandfather, overcome with grief, blamed the hospital’s negligence for the sudden death and cried out in anguish, causing a stir within the hospital complex.

Thangaraj, a resident of Parandapalli near Tirupattur, had married Ramya, who is from the Uthangarai  area. During Ramya’s pregnancy, she was admitted to Uthangarai Hospital, where she gave birth to a baby boy. However, the newborn’s condition quickly became critical, and after only a day, he was transferred to Tirupattur Government Hospital for further treatment.

For the past five days, the infant had been receiving intensive care at the hospital’s infant Ward. Despite the doctors’ best efforts, the child tragically passed away on the evening of 17 November.

When the family learned of the child’s death, they were devastated, and the child’s grandfather, Suresh, expressed his grief and confusion, crying out, “They said the child was fine for five days. How could he suddenly die?”He also lamented that hospital nurses were demanding 200 and 500 rupees to allow family members to enter and see the baby. He claimed they were not allowed to check on the child’s condition and were told to wait, with staff saying the doctors had not yet arrived to assess the situation.

According to the doctors at Tirupattur Government Hospital, the child had been admitted in a critical state due to a serious brain condition. The medical team had closely monitored his condition and provided all possible treatment. However, despite their efforts, the infant passed away in the morning.

A relative of the family voiced further concerns, stating, “The body of the deceased child should have been handed over to the parents in a respectful manner. Instead, the hospital administration gave the body in a bag, which added to our distress.”

Stillborn Baby’s Body Is Handed Over In Cardboard Box At Kilpauk Hospital

A similar tragedy unfolded in December 2023, during the devastating Chennai floods, when a 20-year-old woman named Sowmya delivered a stillborn baby at home on December 6. Due to the severe flooding in their Pulianthope neighborhood, the family was unable to reach a hospital.

Despite frantic efforts to secure an ambulance, the flooded streets made transportation impossible. The family’s agony continued after the stillbirth, as they lacked the means to sever the umbilical cord. In a desperate move, compassionate neighbors used a cycle rickshaw to transport Sowmya and her baby to G3 Hospital. However, upon arrival, they found the hospital gates locked and the staff unresponsive.

Seeking assistance elsewhere, they took the mother and child to Muthu Hospital, where treatment was reluctantly provided only after police intervention.

The family’s suffering deepened when, on December 10, the grief-stricken father, Masood, a daily wage worker, arrived at Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital (KMC) to claim the body of his stillborn daughter. To his horror, the hospital staff handed over the baby’s body in a cardboard box. Masood also alleged that the hospital demanded a bribe of ₹2,500 for the cremation—a fee he could not afford.

Meanwhile, Sowmya remained hospitalized and was receiving treatment. The baby’s body was initially transferred to the mortuary after a pediatrician’s examination, but when the body was eventually handed over to Masood, it was done so without any proper shrouding, exposing a serious lapse in the hospital’s procedures.

In the wake of this disturbing incident, a staff member at Chennai’s Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital was suspended following a police inquiry.

Footballer Priya R. Who Came For Knee Surgery Dies from Multiple Organ Failure Due To Medical Negligence

Priya R., a 17-year-old footballer from Chennai, tragically died in November 2023 due to multiple organ failure following a botched knee surgery. Priya, a student at Ranimary College, had been a competitive football player since childhood.

In early November, she injured her right leg during practice, and a subsequent diagnosis revealed a ligament tear. She underwent surgery at Perambur Periyar Nagar Government Suburban Hospital on November 7. However, despite the surgery, Priya’s condition worsened, and she was transferred to Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital, where doctors discovered that improper bandaging had restricted blood flow to her leg, causing severe tissue damage. To save her life, amputation was performed, but her condition continued to deteriorate, and she died from organ failure shortly after.

Following her death, two orthopedic doctors were suspended for medical negligence, and an FIR was filed against them. The Tamil Nadu BJP chief called for further action, including suspending the doctors and providing compensation. The DMK government announced a ₹10 lakh compensation for Priya’s family.

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