In a bizarre incident reported at the MCD’s Swami Dayanand Hospital in Shahdara, a stray dog strolled into the examination ward of the gynaecology department on the first floor of the hospital and walked away with a dead foetus lying in a medical disposal bag. The incident has created a storm, with angry relatives demanding compensation for the hospital’s negligence.

“Under no circumstances will we tolerate this. A hospital cannot be so negligent. We will conduct an inquiry into the matter and action will be taken against those responsible,” said MCD Health Committee Chairman V K Monga.

Monga also called an emergency meeting with the Additional Commissioner, Municipal Health Officer and the Veterinary officer on the matter. The Veterinary department has been directed to immediately remove all stray dogs around the hospital. An inquiry has been called into the matter.

“We are going to take very strict action in the matter to ensure that no other hospital dares to be so careless in handling patients and security,” added Monga.

The doctors had operated on 20-year old Shaheen, a resident of Muzaffarabad village on Wednesday.

“Shaheen had developed complications, so we had to remove the six-and-a-half-month old foetus,” said hospital Medical Superintendent M Venugopal.

The patient was later shifted to the labour ward while the foetus was left in a bag in the examination room.

“The doctor and other staff were busy attending the patient when the dog entered the room and walked away with the bag. One of our staff members saw the dog running away with the bag,” added Venugopal.

Shaheen’s mother-in-law Ashmat demanded compensation for the negligence. “We have lost our unborn child and are extremely hurt. We want the MCD to compensate for our loss,” she said.