The body of a 14-day-old infant was exhumed in Pilibhit on Friday for a fresh autopsy, following shocking allegations by the parents that hospital staff deliberately dropped their newborn on the floor after they refused to pay a bribe of Rs 5,000. The exhumation was ordered by the District Magistrate (DM) to ensure a proper investigation into the exact cause of death.
Allegations of Bribery and Aggression
The tragic incident revolves around a family from Pilibhit. The parents have made a grave accusation against the staff of the district women's hospital. They claim that after the delivery, they were asked for an illegal payment of Rs 5,000 for a post-delivery procedure. Upon their refusal, they allege, a staff member intentionally dropped the newborn baby on the floor in an act of aggression. The father, Mradul Singh, stated that despite approaching the local police station and the emergency 'Dial 112' service, no immediate action was taken. He further claimed his wife received dire threats from hospital staff for going to the police.
Hospital's Version of Events
The hospital administration has strongly refuted these allegations. The Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS), Dr. Rajesh Kumar, provided a different sequence of events. According to him, the mother was admitted on December 2 and delivered a healthy child the next day. Doctors recommended a cesarean section, but the couple denied consent. The medical team then proceeded with a vacuum extraction delivery.
Dr. Kumar explained that this procedure often causes a temporary swelling called a 'chignon' on the baby's head. He stated that the father mistakenly perceived this as a head injury. Before the hospital could transfer the baby to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for observation, the father took the infant to a private healthcare facility. The CMS insisted that the subsequent claim of the baby being killed by hospital staff is baseless.
Transparent Probe and Next Steps
The District Magistrate took cognizance of the serious charges, leading to the exhumation order. The procedure was conducted on Friday in the presence of a magistrate and senior police officials to maintain legal sanctity. Dr. Alok Kumar, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), confirmed that a two-member panel of government medical officers performed the autopsy. He emphasized that the entire process was videographed to ensure complete transparency in the probe.
The CMO added that the parents' allegations of "carelessness and a deliberate act of aggression" are central to the investigation. Any further legal steps by the authorities will depend entirely on the findings of this conclusive autopsy report. The case has highlighted urgent concerns about medical ethics and patient safety in government healthcare facilities.
