Kin create furore over baby’s identification

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 5

A day after a newborn was declared dead at Chaitanya Hospital, Sector 44, the baby’s family created a ruckus over his identification ahead of his postmortem examination and ended the protest only after doctors agreed to conduct a DNA test.

The special board of doctors that conducted his postmortem examination at Government Multi Specialty Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16, here this morning, sent his vital organs for histopathology analysis as the family yesterday lodged a complaint with the police alleging that wrong time of death was conveyed to them by the authorities at Chaitanya Hospital.

The family today alleged that the body was swapped and not shown to them before it was released from the hospital. The family was accompanied by more than 70 relatives and friends, blocked the postmortem centre demanding that DNA test of the baby and parents be conducted for the identification of the baby. 

“The body was fully packed when released,” said Chaggan Lal, a family member.

After an hour-long protest by the family, the GMSH-16 authorities called them inside the postmortem centre to identify the body. However, his parents claimed that the body had partially decomposed and hence they could not identify it.

The authorities finally assured the family of a DNA test. The whole process delayed the postmortem by two hours. It began at 11 am instead of 9am. 

“As the body was on ventilator support until yesterday, the time of death could not be ascertained by examining the organs. Hence, the baby’s lungs and heart were sent for histopathology analysis to the GMCH-32. This will help in determining when the baby last breathed. The report will take approximately one month to be released,” informed a senior official from the GMSH-16.

On Saturday, high drama was witnessed on the premises of Chaitanya Hospital as the family alleged that the hospital staff informed them about the baby death a day later. The baby boy was born July 2. The family also alleged that the hospital staff had deleted the records where original time of birth was recorded so as to inflate the medical bill.

A complaint was given at Sector 34 police station. 

Chaitanya Hospital’s spokesperson said the baby was premature and did not cry during birth. 

DNA samples of parents to be taken today

Inspector Baljeet Singh, SHO of the Sector 34 police station, said the samples collected from the body have been sent for chemical examination and DNA samples will be sent for examination to CFSL-36. He added that DNA samples of the parents of the deceased newborn will be taken on Monday. “Exact picture will be clear only after the sample reports come, we are investigating,” he said.

City IMA flays incident 

"Due to the incident, all senior doctors were not allowed to examine the rest of the patients at the hospital, thus putting their lives at risk" — Dr Sandeep Dhavan president of IMA chandigarh. 

Relatives block post-mortem centre

• Family accompanied by more than 70 relatives and friends, blocked the post-mortem centre demanding that DNA test be conducted. 
• Parents claimed that the body had partially decomposed and hence, they could not identify it.