Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh: 12 infants died in 3 days at Government Hospital

[Ronan Kelly]

Another infant dies in Kurnool
Ashok Das, Hindustan Times
Hyderabad, September 04, 2011 Email to Author

First Published: 00:07 IST(4/9/2011)
Last Updated: 00:10 IST(4/9/2011)
Another crib death was reported from the Government General Hospital in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh on Saturday, barely 48 hours after 11 infants died allegedly because of faulty incubators. Hospital sources said the latest casualty, a five-day-old infant, was suffering from multiple complications and had high fever when it was brought to the state-run hospital, around 180 km south of Hyderabad, on Friday.

"We did our best, but could not save the child," said a senior doctor on condition of anonymity.

While the spurt in infant mortalities was shocking, doctors said it was "routine", even as parents blamed the deaths on clinical negligence.

Earlier on Friday, a preliminary inquiry by a team led by director of medical education Sampath Kumar said there was no prima facie evidence of negligence on the part of the doctors or the hospital staff.

...

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Another-infant-dies-in-Kurnool/Article1-741345.aspx

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh: 12 infants died in 3 days at Government Hospital

AP baby deaths: 'Guilty doctors won't be spared'
Saturday, September 3, 2011, 16:50 [IST

...
11 newborns died in two days at a government hospital in Andhra Pradesh, allegedly due to clinical negligence. Seven babies died at the hospital on Thursday, Sep 1 a day after four babies lost their lives, allegedly due to a defective oxygen supply system. All the babies were one to five days old.

The report was filed within 24 hours of the deaths being reported on Wednesday and Thursday.

“Most babies were treated under standard protocol and ET bag ventilation. The treatment protocol was well maintained and of the ten infants who died, the death of in-born infants (babies born within the hospital) is only one, whereas of out-born infants are nine. Of these four babies were premature,” the report stated.

...

http://news.oneindia.in/2011/09/03/ap-baby-deaths-guilty-doctors-wont-be-spared.html

Kurnool shocker: Report reveals lapses
3 Sep 2011, 1605 hrs IST
In a shocking revelation, the preliminary probe report into the Kurnool infant deaths case claims that ventilators were not used and most babies were treated under standard protocol. TIMES NOW has exclusive access of the preliminary report, which was asked for after 12 infant deaths were reported in less than 48-hours at Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool government hospital.

According to the report, the average mortality in the Neonatal ICU is 35% at the Kurnool government hospital. The report also states that 20 more babies died in August as compared to the month of July.

Only two nurses are posted for 25 babies around the clock, adds the report.

Earlier today, after denying negligence on their behalf in the infant death case, Andhra Pradesh government went into a damage control mode claiming that things are back to normal at the Kurnool government hospital.

Ram Shankar Naik, Collector of Kurnool district said that more staff has been roped in to manage the situation. He added, "Biometric engineer has been called in. Things are find now."

Four infants died on Wednesday followed by eight on Thursday at the government-run hospital, around 180 km south of Hyderabad.

In July, of the 187 infants admitted to the Kurnool hospital, 44 died. In August, 201 infants were admitted, of which 61 died, according to official data.

http://www.timesnow.tv/Kurnool-shocker-Report-reveals-lapses/articleshow/4383007.cms