Odisha hospital 'hands over wrong baby'; parents find out in referred hospital

Tension erupted at Phulbani District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) after a couple discovered that the hospital authorities shifted a newborn baby girl instead of their baby boy to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur. 

As per reports, the newborn baby boy of Mukhi, a resident of Panji Sahi in Phulbani town, was admitted to the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of the DHH because of low weight. 

For more treatment, the doctor treating Mukhi’s son referred him to MKCG Medical College and Hospital. However, the DHH staff handed over a newborn baby girl wrapped in a cloth to the couple and sent them to the referred hospital. 

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As they were in haste they reportedly did not check. It was when the doctor at the MKCG Medical College and Hospital told them that it was a girl, that they received the shock of their lifetime. 

The worried couple returned to Phulbani DHH and upon verification, they found that their son was still in the SNCU of the DHH, leading to tension on the hospital premises. 

Going to make amends for their mistake, the DHH authorities arranged an ambulance for the distressed couple and sent them again to MKCG Medical College and Hospital. 
“When we asked, the doctor said it happened by mistake. He also said that our son is doing well,” said Kiran Pradhan, the infant’s father. 

After getting a report from the SNCU in charge, an enquiry will be initiated to fix the responsibility, said Dolamani Pradhan, ADMO in charge, Phulbani DHH.