Medical negligence again in Kerala? Newborn's hand fractured during delivery in Kozhikode MCH

KOZHIKODE: A family raised an allegation that a newborn baby was handed over to them with a fractured hand at the Medical College Maternal and Child Care Centre. The right hand of the baby girl of Amala VR and Sujin couple, natives of Ottathengu, Kakkodi, was injured. The family alleged that the baby's right hand was fractured during delivery, and treatment was denied.

Amala was admitted to Kozhikode Medical College on the morning of May 14 for her second delivery. The delivery happened in the afternoon. Although the baby was given to her, the doctors immediately shifted her to the ICU. Amala said that she heard the doctors say "shoulder, shoulder" during the delivery. Amala added that the staff or doctors did not show the baby to her or her mother-in-law. When the baby was brought to them the next day, she had a bandage on her arm. When questioned, the doctors said that the bone in her arm was broken.

On the afternoon of the 17th, while feeding the baby, she informed the doctors that the bandage had come off, but no one arrived until 9 pm. Amala said that since the baby kept crying due to the pain, the family solicited discharge and sought treatment at another hospital. The baby's health is currently satisfactory.

A complaint has been filed with the hospital superintendent, the medical college police, and the Elathur MLA Adv. Vidya Balakrishnan in this regard. The superintendent has sought a report from the head of the gynaecology department. The other day, Nadapuram native Rejith MP, who had come to remove kidney stones, died due to medical complications.

The baby weighed 3.37 kg at the time of birth. Due to the high weight, a complication called shoulder dystocia (a condition in which the baby's shoulders get stuck in the mother's pelvis even after the baby's head comes out, making delivery difficult) occurred during the delivery, said Dr Arun Preet, Superintendent of the Maternal and Child Health Centre. In such situations, emergency measures had to be taken to safely remove the baby. The superintendent clarified that the baby has been given the necessary treatment. Dr Jyoti, Head of Gynaecology, said that there was no negligence in the incident, and a report has been submitted to the superintendent.