11.26 PM Thursday, 28 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:57 06:11 12:27 15:53 18:37 19:51
28 March 2024

Hospital denies negligence in death of newborn Indian baby girl

Family is now facing a hospital bill of Dh65,000. (Supplied)

Published
By VM Sathish

Parents of a newly born baby girl, Akalshiya Jose, who died in a private hospital in Ajman where she was born almost a month ago through an emergency cesarean operation, have approached the hospital management and health authorities seeking a detailed investigation into the circumstances leading to their baby’s death.

The Indian family of three claim that their second baby girl never opened her eyes, smiled or show any signs of movement after her birth in the Ajman private hospital on November 16, 2014. She was put on a ventilator for 16 days and the mother's care for four days, before she died on December 5, 2014.

The family is now facing a hospital bill of Dh65,000.  The bereaved father says he used his credit card and his friend’s credit card as well as a loan from his employer to pay the hospital.

The parents suspect that the death of the baby could be due to alleged negligence of hospital staff who delayed the delivery process and admission in the emergency ward, despite the mother complaining of less movement of the baby; especially its diminishing heart beats level.

However, the Ajman Hospital says everything has been done as per normal delivery practices.

Its Medical Director of GMC Hospital Ajman, told Emirates 24|7: “The hospital management has provided the best possible treatment for the pregnant and her delivered baby, during the consultation as well as during the stay at the hospital.

“It was noticed that the baby developed heart beat variation when she presented herself in the hospital… an immediate surgery was performed. A true knot in the umbilical cord was found along with meconium, and this is something that cannot be diagnosed when baby is inside the womb and  [is] seen only after open examination (surgery) by visual checking of the umbilical cord after the delivery. This (knot) affected the blood supply to the baby, causing complications. Every possible and appropriate medical and surgical interventions were given to ensure baby’s survival, unfortunately, without desired benefits.



“The condition of the baby was clearly explained to the father (Mr. Sibu Jose) by the neonatologist during at least 4 meetings, during their stay in the hospital. He seemed convinced and told the doctor that after initial denial, he has accepted the reality.

Upon receiving the complaint by Mr. Sibu,  the administration had made every effort in explaining the situation with direct interaction by hospital authorities involving the concerned health care team,” said the hospital’s medical director.

Father of the deceased baby, Sibu Jose, is a sales executive at a printing press in Dubai, and his wife, Beulah Queen Shabarimuthu, a qualified nurse with M.Sc. in Gynaecology.

Speaking to Emirates 24|7, Sibu said he was desperate to find a new gynaecology hospital to deliver the baby before due date (November 18), because a private hospital in Rolla, Sharjah where the mother was undergoing treatment closed down the gynaecology department.

The baby was fine till November 11, clam the father, quoting medical reports from the closed gynaecology department of the Sharjah hospital. Most of the pregnant women who were undergoing treatment in the closed hospital department were referred to the Ajman private hospital, which offers affordable delivery packages.

Dr Prashanth Hegde, Medical Director of the Hospital told Emirates 24|7 that the patient’s concerns were addressed and as per the internal investigation, everything was done normally. “All the concerns and doubts raised by the patient’s husband has been addressed by the concerned doctors through the administration department. The father was asked to meet the medical director. We did not find anything abnormal in handling the pregnancy case. Everything was done according to the normal procedures and systems and it was properly explained to the complainant.”

People get emotional especially when a new born baby is involved, said hospital officials. Every day the hospital is handing several delivery cases efficiently, they added.

The medical report of the baby girl dated November 20, 2014 said she was born on 16 November 10.26 pm through an emergency caesarean and the baby weighed 3.32 kg had a true knot of umbilical cord and no history of fetal movements. The baby was resuscitated with endotracheal intubation and one dose of injection along with cardiac massages and BAG ET ventilation. The baby was admitted in the NICU and connected with mechanical ventilation. Within twelve hours of birth the baby had an episode of abnormal lip movement and the baby’s nervous system was actively decreased with coma and not reacting to light, according to the medical report.

The father said he has sought the help of concerned health authorities to investigate the matter, after he did not get a satisfactory response from the hospital management The patient said she reached the Ajman hospital at 6.45 pm and had to wait till 10pm to go for the operation.