‘Miracle’ baby stable, Belle Vue denies negligence

“The baby is responding to medication. His kidneys are functioning now, though condition of the heart is yet to stabilise. He is on life support in an incubator,” CMRI officials said on Thursday.

Dr Gautam Khastagir, Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of the Belle Vue Clinic, under whose supervision the baby’s mother Sangita Das was admitted, was allegedly not present during delivery.

It was only when the death certificate of the baby was being prepared that the hospital staff found him alive.

The clinic has formed a three-member panel to probe negligence charges on Khastagir.

P Tandon, Belle Vue CEO, however, denied the charges. He said the baby had not responded to stimuli after birth.

“It was a case of suspended animation – a term used to describe the condition of a patient who does not respond to medical treatment. When the baby didn’t respond, nurses declared him dead,” he added.

Dr Parag Pal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, who is conducting research on suspended animation, said, “In medical history, there is no recorded case of a patient in suspended animation for more than thirty minutes. This baby remained in this state for nearly 10 hours.”

Dr PK Nemani, vice-president, Indian Medical Association, Kolkata branch, said, “A patient is admitted under the supervision of a senior doctor, whose presence in the labour room is not always possible. This was a case of premature delivery, when the woman delivered before the RMO could reach.”

A premature baby born after 25 weeks of pregnancy is not expected to survive, he added.

Although the infant’s parents have registered a complaint with the Shakespeare Sarani police station, the police are yet to frame charges. Deputy Commissioner (HQ) Vineet Goyal said on Thursday: “An FIR has been lodged, but the police have not been able to discern any cognizable offence.”

“We refer cases of medical negligence to a panel comprising experts from various medical agencies and bodies such as the Indian Medical Association. We will do the same in this case,” Goyal added.

If the family wants the health ministry to take action, they will have to submit a written complaint, said Dr Sanchita Bakshi, state’s director (health).