Bengaluru: The death of more than two newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), VV Puram, set off panic forcing the hospital to shut down its neonatal ICU.
However the hospital attributed that the NICU closure is due to “infection- control” measures and hence have stopped new admissions, on Thursday July 9.
Earlier, protests sparked off at the hospital premises when the reports of the death of two newborns came to light on Wednesday morning. At around nine am, a five-day-old infant, who was admitted for Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS), was put on ventilator immediately but was declared dead at 11 am.
Though doctors claimed the deaths were not connected and there was no negligence on their part, families of the two infants had altercations with hospital authorities. Soon, twelve other families whose infants were admitted to the NICU, left the hospital in a hurry, taking their sick babies along.
Another preterm baby with birth weight of 1.5 kg died consecutively. Even though the parents of both these children alleged negligence and infection, the hospital authorities maintained that the causes of death were unrelated.
The situation got worse when two more deaths were reported by midnight and there was a mob fury in the hospital premises. Over two days, the hospital saw intense protests and blames games from various patient attendants. The decision to close down the NICU came on Thursday morning.
KIMS official provides clarification
Medical superintendent of KIMS Dr Suresh said, “Even though the deaths of the newborns were unrelated, we have closed the ICU and are fumigating it as of now. We will re-open the ICU once the disinfection procedure is over. The babies, who were admitted, died because they were already in a very critical state.” He claimed that the neonatal ICU was not in a position to be used after the way it was ransacked by protesters on Wednesday and Thursday.
Health Minister U T Khader has ordered an enquiry into the deaths of these newborns. District health officer Rajani said, “After I heard the news of two deaths, I went and inspected the NICU. Two other babies that were critical at that time, died later at night.”
The death of babies
It is learnt that – the two babies – the five-day-old infant of Rashmi and Harish, a couple from Ramanagaram district, died due to respiratory problems. And around 4pm, the 8-day-old son of Dakshayani and Manjunath M, from Nagarbhavi, died of septicemia (blood poisoning). The first couple left with their baby`s body in the morning, after a confrontation with hospital authorities.
However the family of the second couple escalated the commotion and a rumour flew around the hospital that children were dying of an infection in the NICU. Dakshayani`s father-in-law Ramesh confronted the hospital staff and asked how two babies could die on the same day. He even alleged that an infection was causing the deaths.
“Till 11am, the baby was fine, and then he started frothing. Hours later, we were told the baby was dead. Nothing can bring our baby back but we want those responsible to be held accountable,” said Ramesh.
He also demanded that the money paid to the hospital be returned. However, he did not want to file a complaint with police.
“The team will verify documents, inspect the NICU, check the course of illness and other events. It is likely to submit a report to the government on Monday (July 13)”, Vamadev, Deputy Health Officer, Department of Health and Family Welfare, told reporters on Thursday.
The expert team will include doctors from the hospital, three from the Health Department, one from the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health and one from a private hospital.
