Parents file complaint against Lady Goschen hospital over alleged negligence during childbirth

Team Udayavani, Aug 22, 2024, 10:59 AM IST

Parents have lodged a complaint against Lady Goschen Hospital, alleging negligence during childbirth, resulting in their baby being born without one eye. The complaint was submitted to the Health Minister and the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada.

According to the complaint filed, the woman who was nine months pregnant, was admitted to Lady Goschen Hospital on the night of August 17th. She gave birth to a baby girl at 10:30 AM on August 18th. The doctors initially assured the family that the baby was healthy.

However, three days passed without the parents being allowed to see the baby. On Tuesday evening, the family was suddenly informed that the baby was missing one eye, which came as a shock to them. The family claims that the doctors and hospital authorities did not provide any satisfactory explanation for the condition and refused to hand over the medical reports, raising suspicions. Furthermore, they allege that the mother was not allowed to breastfeed the baby for three days. They are now seeking justice for both the mother and the baby.

Representing the family, Yogish Shetty Jeppu, President of the Tulunadu Rakshana Vedike, submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner on Wednesday, urging a thorough investigation into the incident.

In response to the allegations, Dr. Durga Prasad M.R., Superintendent of Lady Goschen Hospital, clarified that the baby was born at 9:58 AM on August 18th and initially cried at birth but had breathing difficulties. The baby was transferred to the NICU. As the baby’s breathing improved, pediatric specialists noticed an abnormality in the eye area. Further examination by an ophthalmologist revealed that the baby was born without an eye.

Dr. Prasad admitted that there was a delay in informing the parents about the condition, which led to their distress. He assured that all relevant records, including CCTV footage, are available, and emphasized that there was no negligence on the hospital’s part.