Many people feel that the field of medicine in India is run purely for the profit motive; that there are medical practitioners who are callous and indifferent to the Hippocratic Oath that enjoins them to be caring and compassionate to those whom they treat. While this may or may not be true, the headlines that one reads from time to time do make us question the commitment of the Indian health care industry to the care and well-being of their patients. The recent incident involving Max Hospitals and the events that unfolded has done nothing to reassure us either.
The incident occurred in Delhi, at Max Hospital in Shalimar Baug. Twins – a boy and a girl – were born prematurely at the hospital. The babies were born and the hospital declared the twins dead. However, one of the prematurely born newborn twins was actually alive! The boy was found alive by the family and is now undergoing treatment. ‘Champ’ as the baby is being called by his family is now improving!
The matter is being termed as “shocking criminal negligence” and inquiries have been initiated into the matter. The baby girl died soon after birth while the baby boy remained critical. The doctors also told the family that the surviving baby would need months of ventilator support costing between 45 and 50 lakhs.
As per reports, the surviving twin was declared dead a few hours later. The bodies of the two babies were handed to the family in two plastic bags. However, apparently, when the family was going for the last rites, they noticed some movement in one of the bags and found that the boy was breathing. The family filed a complaint of attempt to commit murder upon the hospital and its staff.
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