Private Lucknow Hospital in Shravasti Sealed, Case Registered After Newborn’s Death

A private Lucknow Hospital in Shravasti has been sealed after a newborn died during the delivery of a woman from Banthihwa village in the Bhinga area. A case has also been registered against the hospital staff and two others after the family alleged serious negligence.

The woman, Asmeen, is the wife of Irfan, a resident of Banthihwa village in the Bhinga area. According to the family’s allegations, Asmeen was first taken for an ultrasound examination after she developed labour pain. The family alleged that Asha worker Sugga Devi and GNM Lakshmi then persuaded her to get admitted to the private Lucknow Hospital located near the district hospital.

The family further alleged that the hospital staff spoke about conducting an operation. Following this, the family took Asmeen to the district hospital at night. During an examination at the district hospital, doctors declared the newborn dead and conducted a normal delivery for Asmeen.

The newborn’s death led to anger among the family members. They reached the private hospital and created a commotion there. On the basis of a complaint submitted by Irfan, Kotwali Bhinga police registered a case under various sections against the concerned accused on Tuesday.

The case has triggered action by both the health department and the police administration. In view of the seriousness of the matter, a three-member team formed by Chief Medical Officer Dr. A.K. Singh reached the hospital to conduct an inquiry.

The team included the tehsildar, the CO and the ACMO. The hospital management was unable to provide satisfactory information related to the treatment, following which the hospital was sealed.

The role of the hospital staff is also being investigated. The police and the health department are conducting inquiries at their respective levels.

The case has also raised questions about the hospital’s previous record. According to the information available, the hospital had earlier been sealed three times. There are allegations that it resumed operations again a few days after action was taken.

The repeated sealing of the hospital and its alleged reopening have raised questions about the functioning of the health department. The key issue now is whether the present action will remain limited to sealing the hospital or whether accountability will also be fixed on those found responsible.

Another question concerns the circumstances in which Asmeen was taken to a private hospital instead of a government hospital. The family has also raised questions about what happened during the treatment and the circumstances that led to the newborn’s death.

The police case has been registered and the hospital has been sealed, but the central question remains whether the investigation will establish responsibility for the newborn’s death.

A byte from Alok Kumar Singh, CO, Bhinga, covers the police action and information about the case registered in connection with the incident. Another byte from Irfan, the affected husband, covers the family’s allegations and the sequence of events.