The hospital authorities, however, said the child, Ayan Abdullah, died after suddenly suffering a cardiac arrest.
Padma General Hospital, situated in Kathalbagan in the capital. Photo: TBS
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Padma General Hospital, situated in Kathalbagan in the capital. Photo: TBS
A nine-month-old infant died yesterday (13 September) while undergoing treatment at Padma General Hospital in the capital, with his relatives alleging medical negligence and the absence of a doctor.
The hospital authorities, however, said the child, Ayan Abdullah, died after suddenly suffering a cardiac arrest.
Following the incident, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Director General (Additional) Zahid Raihan arrived at Padma General Hospital this morning (14 September) and inspected the facility.
He is expected to brief journalists regarding the matter later.
Following Ayan’s death around 9pm yesterday, his Asif Hasan made the allegations during a Facebook Live around midnight.
The video later spread across social media.
According to Asif, Ayan had been undergoing treatment at the hospital for the past 13 days for diabetes-related complications.
He said Ayan was normal until the afternoon of the day he died.
In the evening, while family members were trying to feed him, his body gradually began turning blue.
Asif said family members were later suddenly informed that the child needed life support.
When they asked to see him, the hospital authorities allegedly did not allow them to do so. As his condition deteriorated, doctors later declared him dead, he said.
Medical Officer of the hospital Dr Najmul Huq said the child suddenly suffered a cardiac arrest and stopped breathing at one stage.
“We had plans to discharge the child from the hospital the very next day,” he said.
Hospital authorities said they would investigate whether there had been any medical negligence and take necessary action if evidence of negligence was found. They asked for some time to conduct the investigation.
Tension at hospital following death
Following news of the child’s death, tension and a commotion broke out between the relatives and hospital staff. Police went to the hospital after receiving the news last night.
Hospital authorities alleged that agitated relatives destroyed medicines and medical supplies and assaulted several nurses.
However, they could not produce any CCTV footage to support the allegations.
The child’s relatives denied the allegations, claiming that hospital staff had attacked them first.
Burial without autopsy
Complications also arose over whether the child’s body would undergo an autopsy.
The relatives said the child’s mother would not be able to bear seeing Ayan’s body cut open for an autopsy. They therefore took the body away for burial soon after his death.
The relatives, however, said they would take necessary legal action if evidence of medical negligence was found later.
Administrative Officer of Padma General Hospital, Jahirul Islam Anik, rejected the allegations of negligence in duty.
He said action would be taken if the allegations were substantiated through an investigation.
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