By Syed Burhan/ Auqib Javeed
Srinagar- A family from frontier district of Kupwara on Monday alleged that they lost their newborn baby after the two security guards at the Valley’s maternity hospital—Lal Ded didn’t allow them to move the baby to intensive care Unit (ICU) for want of a tip.
The aggrieved father—Mohammad Amin and his relatives held a strong protest at the hospital premises demanding strict punishment for the security guards.
Medical Superintendent Lal Ded Hospital Dr Syed Muzaffar told Kashmir Observer that the patient was admitted in the hospital on 2 January and delivered the child at 12:30 AM.
“They baby wasn’t well and was supposed to be shifted to the ICU. The father took the baby and was on the way to the ICU when he was stopped by the two lady security guards asking for the tip,” Dr.Muzaffar said.
He said the father gave some money to the guards but they were demanding more as a result the precious time was lost.
“The baby couldn’t survive” he said.
The aggrieved father said that his baby was healthy but was asked to shift to the ICU “As I reached the end of the labor room, the security guards did not allow me to leave and asked for money”, he alleges.
Amin says that he offered 800 rupees but the guards refused to take the money and did allow him to proceed to the children’s ward for ten minutes.
“Doctor had told me to take the child to the ICU quickly but the guards on duty prevented me. As I left the room, the child died, said Amin, while tears trickle down his eyes.
“My wife is telling me to show her the child. What should I tell her?” he questioned.
After the incident, protests erupted in the vicinity of the hospital.
Dr Syed Muzaffar admitted that the attitude of the guards on duty was unprofessional and unethical.
Dr. Muzaffar further said that under hospital norms a senior hospital staffer has to accompany the patient and attendant to ICU but in this case it seems the staff would have been slightly away.
The Medical Superintendent said the father of the dead child has given us a written complaint and on that basis he had constituted a committee which terminated the services of the guards.
“I terminated both the female security guards and we will make sure that such episodes don’t take place in the future”.
He also assured that the matter is being thoroughly investigated.
Pertinently it is to mention the private security guards at the hospital were provided by a Srinagar based company which includes both male and female staff.
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