Doctor wrongly declares newborn dead

Kendrapara: A newborn girl allegedly declared dead by an on-duty doctor was found alive by an ASHA worker much to the relief of the crestfallen parents.

According to sources, a woman of Talachua panchayat in Rajkanika block went into labour pain late on Thursday night and her family members rushed her to Rajnagar hospital. Since she was bleeding, Madhavi Mandal, the ASHA worker who accompanied them shifted her to Kendrapara district headquarters hospital (DHH).

On-duty doctor and nurse who checked the patient at the DHH said that the baby was no more and the mother's condition was critical. Later after some medication, the baby was delivered and the doctor said that it was stillborn.

“When after slapping and pumping the baby in the oxygen chamber she did not respond, the doctor declared her dead. But I continued breathing air into her using the pumping machine. When I told the sister that the baby was responding she questioned my experience. After repeated appeals, the doctor finally came and said that the baby was alive but in critical condition,” the ASHA worker said.

Later the baby was shifted to Cuttack SCB Medical College and Hospital.

Meanwhile, alleging negligence by the doctor, the family members of the woman have demanded a probe into the incident, however, the hospital authorities have refuted the allegations.

Doctor Gopal Mohanty said the baby was in critical condition and was not crying after birth. “After medication we have sent her on ventilation support to Cuttack SCB hospital, but the doctor on-duty has not said anything about the death of the baby," he added