Post News Network
Sambalpur, Dec 25: Barely 24 hours since Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik attended a review meeting on the jaundice menace, a four-year-old girl Thursday died of suspected jaundice here in the district headquarters hospital due to
alleged medical negligence.
The deceased was identified as Phulki Nayak, daughter of Manglu Nayak of Paradeshipara under Khetrajpur
police limits.
The incident triggered huge public
outrage in the hospital premises and irate mobs gheraoed the hospital, keeping the body of the kid. They demanded a high level probe into the incident and stern action against the accused doctor. Police personnel were deployed at the campus to prevent any untoward
incident. Later, additional district medical officer Dr Sanyasini Padhi arrived at the scene and had discussions with the bereaved family. People relented after the ADMO promised an inquiry into the matter and action against the guilty.
“There was no negligence in the treatment of the child and the kid is suspected to have died of pneumonia,” Dr Padhi said, adding, jaundice might be another reason of her death as the patient’s body looked yellow. “The exact reason of death would be known once the post mortem report is received,” the ADMO further said.
Reports said, though the Chief Minister strictly directed the hospital authorities to provide the required health services to the patients, the kid was not admitted to the hospital even when she was in a critical state. Their daughter died of medical negligence, the parents alleged.
Phulki fell ill a few days ago after being administered medicines, collected from a local Anganwadi centre, for jaundice for a couple of days. She was rushed to the DHH as her condition turned critical Thursday. Though Manglu and his wife Rupa urged the doctor to admit their daughter to the hospital, he
refused.
As if that was not enough, the physician asked the couple to collect medicines from the drug distribution centre and feed the child. However, Phulki
succumbed after an hour of being given the medicines.