Max Hospital Terminates Services of Two Doctors Over Negligence

As the family proceeded for their infant’s burial, they noticed that the baby was squirming in the plastic bag.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@pratidintime)

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday, 2 December, said that strict action would be taken against Max Hospital, and, if required, its licence would be cancelled.

This comes after the hospital was accused of medical negligence after an infant was found alive after being declared ‘dead’ on 29 November. The Delhi police has also reportedly asked the hospital for details of doctors and staff involved in the case.

Meanwhile, Max Healthcare on 3 December decided to terminate the services of two doctors allegedly involved in the case. The decision was taken after a meeting of the Max Healtcare authorities in connection with the incident.

While the inquiry by the expert group which includes external experts from the IMA is still in process, we have decided to terminate the services of two treating doctors, doctors AP Mehta and Vishal Gupta in the case relating to the twin extreme pre-term babies.

MAX Healthcare statement

Earlier on Saturday, 2 December, the Delhi Medical Council initiated a probe into the case. The expert group set up by Max Healthcare to investigate the circumstances and protocols followed regarding the premature delivery of twins, and subsequent declaration of death is expected to complete their investigation on 4 December, and share it on the same day.

The infant, who was declared dead, was one of the premature twins – a boy and girl – born in the Shalimar Bagh Hospital. While the girl was declared stillborn, the doctors said the boy was initially critical, and that he later passed away in the neonatal ICU. The hospital authorities then allegedly handed over the body to the family in a plastic bag.

As the family proceeded for their infant’s burial, they noticed that the baby was squirming in the plastic bag. After spotting signs of life, the family immediately rushed the infant to a nearby hospital in Kashmere Gate. The hospital informed them that the baby was alive.

Relatives of the twin babies sat in protest outside the hospital on Friday night, stating they would continue to sit there until action was taken against the hospital administration.

The family continues to remain in a state of shock at the medical negligence meted out to their child by Max Hospital.

My daughter, Varsha, was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday afternoon. Two days later, following a C-section delivery around 7:30 pm, she first delivered a baby boy, and then a girl 12 minutes later. The doctors told us that the girl had died and the boy was alive, but was critical and needed ventilator support.

Praveen, maternal grandfather of the infants

Ashish, the father, said both his babies were given to him in plastic bags. “We were on our way to the cremation ground when we noticed movement in the plastic bag carrying the boy. We immediately rushed him to the hospital,” he said.

The mother of the infant said, “I had given birth to two children, one boy and one girl. The doctors declared the girl stillborn, but told us that our boy was alive but critical. They had put him on ventilator for sometime, but later declared him dead too. I was shocked to see there was life in him while we were on our way to the cremation ground.”

According to NDTV, after the case was brought to Max Healthcare’s notice, they issued a statement in which they mentioned that the concerned doctor has been sent on leave, and a detailed inquiry has also been initiated.

We are shaken and concerned at this rare incident. We have initiated a detailed inquiry, pending which the concerned doctor has been asked to proceed on leave immediately. We are in constant touch with the parents and are providing all the support needed.

Max Healthcare

The Delhi police has started the investigation into this case and has called it “a very shocking incident and the height of negligence.” A case has been registered against the hospital under Section 308 of the Indian Penal Code.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal described the incident as ‘shocking’, ordering an inquiry into the incident.

State Health Minister Satyendra Jain has asked his department to file a preliminary report within three days, and a comprehensive report on the incident within a week.

Taking cognisance of the grave medical negligence by Max Hospital, Union Health Minister JP Nadda has urged the states to adopt the Clinical Establishments Act so that regulatory authorities are operative and can oversee the working and functioning of private institutions.

This is a very unfortunate incident. I have asked the Delhi government to look into the matter and take necessary action against the hospital.

JP Nadda

(With inputs from PTI.)

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