The death of a four-year-old boy resulted in a tense atmosphere at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child health (IGICH) on Thursday, as the parents of the dead child alleged medical negligence.
Though the parents accused doctors of treating their child carelessly, thereby causing its death, Dr Shivanand, director of IGICH, denied it.
Ruling out a case of medical negligence, he said the child had refractory shock and other infections. The child was referred from a private hospital and the condition of the boy was critical when brought to us. “Our doctors could not save the boy despite their best efforts,” he said.
“Every day we receive at least six cases wherein the condition of children are really bad. In most cases, parents bring their wards after medical bills at private hospitals shoot up. In other instances, the private hospitals themselves refer children to us considering parents’ financial status,” he added.