INDIA: A NEW BORN BABY DIED AFTER FALLING FROM A BED IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.(PHOTO).

 INDIA: A NEW BORN BABY DIED AFTER FALLING FROM A BED IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT. 

A tragic incident was reported at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) on Monday, August 18, when a newborn died after falling from a bed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The Assam government has ordered the suspension of the nurse on duty at the time of the incident.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who visited the hospital later in the evening, termed the incident “unacceptable in a premier medical institution.” He ordered an inquiry and formed a three-member panel comprising Additional Chief Secretary Sweety Changsan, Director of Medical Education Dr Anup Barman, and AIIMS Paediatrics Head Dr Joy Sankar. The panel has been asked to submit its findings within three to four days.

Hospital authorities stated that the infant, born to Smita Deka of Noonmati, was undergoing phototherapy for jaundice in the NICU when the mishap occurred. In the early hours, staff found that two newborns had slipped from their phototherapy beds. One of them was discovered hanging from a unit and could not be revived despite immediate medical efforts.

Following the incident, the chief minister also held a video conference with principals of all government medical colleges and senior specialists across Assam. He directed institutions to adopt strict preventive measures to ensure such cases do not occur again in the future.