A newborn whose mother’s injection was allegedly administered to the baby due to a nurse’s negligence at Chattogram’s Centre for Specialised Care and Research (CSCR) has been referred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Evercare Hospital for advanced treatment.
The decision came from a medical board formed by CSCR after the baby’s condition had deteriorated yesterday (7 September).
The family alleges that a nurse administered Rhophylac 300, an injection prescribed for the baby’s mother, to the newborn despite the mother informing the nurse that the medicine was meant for her.
Following the incident, CSCR authorities suspended nurse Shafia Akter on Sunday (6 September) for negligence and formed a three-member committee to investigate the matter.
The newborn’s father, Mohammad Hasan, told The Business Standard that both his wife and the baby were healthy after the child was born on Saturday afternoon.
As his wife, Shakila Yasmin, has A-negative blood and the newborn has A-positive blood, a doctor advised her to take Rhophylac 300.
Hasan said he purchased the injection from outside and brought it to the hospital.
He continued, “When the injection was being administered, his wife told the nurse that it was prescribed for her, not the newborn. But even after that, the nurse pushed it into the newborn.
“After the injection was administered, the baby’s body became cold, and its colour started changing. Later, the hospital authorities quickly took the baby to the NICU.”
Hasan said the baby’s condition began deteriorating after the injection and that the child later developed complications including heart problems, with at least two holes detected in the heart valves, breathing difficulties and a blood infection.
The hospital authorities, however, said medical tests have not yet established whether these complications are directly related to the injection.
They said the conditions are congenital abnormalities.
Hasan also questioned the hospital’s claim that the baby has a congenital heart defect.
“During the pregnancy, treatment was taken for around 9-10 months under Dr Taslima Banu. Although an anomaly scan at 22 weeks and several other ultrasonograms were conducted, no heart problem was detected in the baby,” he said.
He claimed that all the tests were conducted at CSCR and that he has documents to support his claim.
He also said doctors declared both the mother and baby healthy after the normal delivery on Saturday.
Hasan said the incident should not be attributed solely to the nurse’s negligence, adding that the role of the doctor on duty in administering the injection and the hospital authorities’ supervision should also be investigated.
CSCR Chief Operating Officer (COO) Dr Mohammad Salahuddin told TBS that a medical board comprising specialist doctors decided to refer the baby to Evercare’s NICU as the child’s condition had deteriorated.
He said CSCR authorities will bear the cost of the baby’s treatment.
According to Salahuddin, an echocardiogram detected an atrial septal defect (ASD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and pulmonary hypertension in the baby.
“However, it cannot be confirmed at this stage whether these complications were caused by the injection. The opinion of specialist doctors is needed in this regard,” he said.
Salahuddin said the hospital authorities have suspended the nurse for negligence and formed a three-member investigation committee following the incident.
A medical board comprising specialist doctors from Chattogram Medical College was also formed, and the baby was referred to Evercare on the board’s recommendation.
The hospital authorities acknowledged that the nurse made a mistake in administering the injection during treatment.
However, they insisted that an investigation and expert opinions will be needed to determine whether the injection was responsible for the baby’s subsequent complications.
Salahuddin said the hospital will take responsibility if any injection-related complications are proven.
Meanwhile, the baby’s mother, Shakila Yasmin, was discharged from CSCR yesterday afternoon.
The family alleged that hospital authorities asked them to leave the cabin soon after the incident and attempted to cover up the matter. The hospital, however, said she was discharged because her physical condition was stable.
Hasan said CSCR has agreed to bear the cost of the baby’s treatment at Evercare, but that this alone will not be sufficient.
“If the child develops any physical complications in the future due to the injection, the hospital must also bear the cost of treatment and take responsibility,” he said.
Arrangements have also been made for the baby’s mother to receive treatment at Evercare Hospital.
The family alleged that after the baby was transferred to Evercare’s NICU, the mother also required medical attention, but there was initial reluctance to admit her for treatment. She was later admitted to a cabin following the family’s request.
Hasan said, “After the baby was taken to Evercare, we also wanted his mother to be kept there for treatment. Later, after talking to the hospital authorities, she was admitted to a cabin.”
On the matter, CSCR COO Salahuddin said the mother’s physical condition is stable, and the baby has been transferred to Evercare because of the need for advanced treatment.
He said necessary arrangements are being made if the mother requires treatment.
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